Social enterprise Mytime Active has acquired healthy lifestyle provider MEND, which will save the weight management business from going into administration.

MEND (Mind, Education, Nutrition, Do it!) delivers over 200 healthy lifestyle programmes throughout the UK for children and families in local communities. Since being founded in 2004, MEND has helped more than 55,000 children and adults across the world improve their health and lifestyles.

As part of the acquisition a number of staff will transfer across, including dieticians, physical activity specialists and psychologists.

In addition to the wealth of knowledge within the business, MEND has developed a 20-year research partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and University College London Institute of Child Health. There are also links to the MEND International Research Group. MEND has similar research partnerships in USA, Canada and Australia.

According to a spokesperson, the deal will form part of Mytime Active's continuing expansion in delivering health services across the UK.

The purchase will also see Mytime Active become a global player in healthcare delivery, with MEND's operations in the USA, Canada and Australia.

Mytime Active chief executive Steve Price said: "We are delighted to announce our acquisition of MEND, which further strengthens our portfolio of services and contracts in health care provision not only in this country but on a global scale. It also reaffirms our commitment to our patients and the communities that we serve and our people."