Not long ago, Cem Altinbas could only watch as his friends jumped on their bikes and peddled off for an adventure.

Overweight and unhappy, he was too uncomfortable and nervous and never dared get in the saddle.

These days, the 10-year-old loves nothing more getting on his bike.

It is all down to a pilot course aimed at stopping overweight children becoming obese adults.

Cem might not have shed many pounds but he’s heading in the right direction and is now so full of confidence, he’s a different lad.

Cem, of Burston Road, Coxheath, attended the 12-week course with his mum, Andrea.

He said: “I wasn’t very happy. I felt stiff, lethargic and uncomfortable with myself.

“Now I can ride a bike and my legs don’t feel so stiff.

“I have learnt how to eat properly and realise that if I eat too much I will become overweight, but if I keep a balance with food and weight I will be very healthy.

“I feel very happy and proud. I’m now a very confident boy.”

The pilot course was launched by the West Kent Primary Care Trust (PCT) after shocking statistics showed that one fifth of Maidstone’s children were overweight or obese.

The PCT and Maidstone council used government money to fund it, and last week the course, run by qualified exercise physiologist, Jill Maynard, ended.

All 15 children who took part will be offered follow-up sessions, and this week the PCT confirmed the course will run again in September.

In a Department of Health guidance document published in January, childhood obesity was described as a “ticking timebomb.”

It showed one third of children are overweight or obese and this could rise to two thirds by 2050, with a cost of £50 billion to the NHS.

Mrs Altinbas said: “I knew there was a problem as Cem was putting on weight around his torso and had problems with his mobility, but I didn’t know what to do. I was lost.

“I picked up the Kent Messenger one day and there was the article about the obesity classes launching. It was the answer to my prayers and I rang the number straight away.”

Despite her efforts making her family healthy meals, Cem, who attends attends Coxheath Primary School, would also seek out biscuits, chocolates and crisps and spend hours on his PlayStation, often while his mum was at work.

Now he loves walking, swimming, running and riding his bike, and has swapped junk food snacks for grapes and strawberries, although he is still allowed daily treats of chocolate or crisps.

He has lost more than two pounds in weight and has more energy.

Mrs Altinbas said: “It was difficult as we didn’t want to force him into things he didn’t want to do.

“The hardest part of the course for me was seeing him get on the treadmill for the first time. His weight made him feel really unsteady and stiff, and he just grabbed on as it started moving. He came off shaking.”

Now Cem thinks nothing of running on the treadmill, proudly showing off his course certificate, declaring he can run 1,160 metres in 12 minutes.

Mrs Maynard, who ran the course at the Zeroth Active Zone, in Boughton Lane, said: “The children have all been on a journey. This hasn’t been about losing weight, but stemming the weight gain and improving children’s confidence.

“We have talked to the children in a truthful way, but the word diet has never been used and no food is banned. The emphasis is on living a healthy lifestyle through lots of activity.”

The course also helped families understand the underlying issues around obesity.

Mrs Altinbas said: “It came just at the right time.

“Cem used to get angry with himself that he couldn’t do certain things and it is like he has re-programmed himself.

“I now realise how important it is to slow down, spend more time with your children and stop rushing around.”