THIS time last year, pretty 13-year-old Gemma Hardman was one of those overweight kids who are taunted and bullied at school.

By her mother’s admission, she was “a mess”. Standing just 5ft 4ins tall, her weight was edging up towards 13st and was making her ill.

But now, thanks to a Government-backed child obesity “bootcamp”, Gemma has lost weight, is trim and loves exercise.

Gemma, from Stourbridge, joined her local MEND programme. MEND stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition. . . . Do it! It is run by primary care trusts and is free to families of two to 13-year-olds who feel their son or daughter is overweight.

When Gemma joined a group at Dudley Leisure Centre in January, she was 12st 9lbs.

But 11 months on, she is continuing to lose weight, has gone down two dress sizes and has chosen dance as one of her GCSEs.

Gemma made losing weight her new year’s resolution because her size was causing her health problems, her confidence had gone and her life was a misery at school.

Her mum Sadie, aged 41, a surveyor, said: “As a parent, you don’t want to admit your child is fat, but I used to watch her dancing on the stage at school and think oh God she’s fat.

“This time last year Gemma was a mess – she was in a terrible state, had no confidence and was being called names at school.”

Gemma herself said she reached rock bottom and knew she had to get help.

“In February 2009 I was getting terrible chest pains, then started to have awful headaches which the doctor said was caused by me being overweight,” she said.

“The teachers could see I was upset and having a hard time so made me go and see the school nurse who told me about MEND and referred me onto the course.”

When she joined, her waist measured a belt-busting 39ins.

Her BMI was 30 (the recommended healthy range is between 17 and 25).