Agenda item

Jon Hobday, Public Health Consultant to provide a verbal update. Report and presentation attached.

Jon Hobday, Public Health Consultant provided information on how Bury is tackling obesity.

Obesity was described as a huge public health issue due to the financial costs and the years of life lost over the population. Poor physical health and mental health are linked to obesity. Over the last 6 decades the changes in how people live have contributed to obesity, due to changes with jobs being less physical, transport, food availability and food density that increases an obesogenic environment.

Obesity doesn’t affect groups equally and causes significant inequalities. People who are in the most deprived groups are significantly more likely to be overweight and obese and are twice as likely to go into hospital as a result of an obesity related condition.

Statistical information was shared on the percentage of adults and children who are classified as overweight or obese.

In Bury, 63% of adults are overweight or obese which equates to 84,000 adults. 34.9% of year 6 aged children and 23.6% of reception aged children are classed as overweight or obese; an obese child is more likely to grow into an obese adult.

A map was shared showing where the inequalities are within Bury, the most deprived areas show the highest levels of overweight and obesity.

Addressing the issues of obesity was described as complex. The vision is to create the healthy choice being the easiest choice by encouraging a positive food environment and a positive physical environment.

It was explained how Bury is supporting people who are overweight and obese and the activities that are available to reduce inequalities in physical activity.

The work that is being done to address food inequalities, as part of the food strategy was explained.

The next steps that are taking place to tackle obesity in Bury are:

•       To continue to create a whole systems approach to working collaboratively for the implementation of the physical activity and food strategies.

•       Build on existing successes and continue to strengthen delivery and engagement.

•       Utilise new funding streams and refocus existing resources and provision following the pandemic to build on innovation and reduce inequalities particularly targeting those most affected by Covid-19 and those with the highest levels of inactivity and the poorest diets.

Jon Hobday invited questions and comments from the committee members.

·         Councillor Walmsley raised concerns about the levels of obesity in the reception and year six cohorts. Concerns were raised in relation to the inequalities of obesity within the areas of Bury. Councillor Walmsley questioned what work had been done on the Bury’s food strategy to tackle the number of takeaways. Discussions took place around take away outlets and challenging planning decisions.

Jon Hobday explained that Francesca Vale who leads on the food strategy is liaising with the planning department to create a supplementary planning document.

·         Councillor Tegolo questioned what the exercise and referral programme does.

Jon Hobday explained that this is an adult service, aimed at people with a range of medical conditions, that will benefit from losing weight. A GP can refer to the BEATS service who can put together a structured exercise programme which will take into consideration their medical conditions and review goals.

·         Councillor Tegolo questioned if a child would be referred to the G.P through the healthy weight programme.

Jon Hobday explained that the family would be signposted to resources and information as it would be too resource intensive to refer families to a particular service.

·         Councillor Birchmore raised issues around parents who rely on convenience foods due to time constraints and raised issues around people who are relying on food banks, where donated foods tend to be less nutritious.

Jon Hobday explained that it was important to look at environments outside of the home such as in schools, ensuring children are physically active and they have a healthy school meal. It was explained work can be done with parents in terms of healthy eating and physical activity, to make small changes that could make a difference to the family.

·         Councillor Hussain explained the dark kitchen concept where a portion of an industrial kitchen is rented out to businesses who produce food for delivery. It was suggested that this is happening in other areas and questioned if this was happening it Bury.

Jon Hobday explained that he hadn’t heard of this concept and suggested that he will look at this to make sure that it does not impact on communities.

·         Councillor Hussain questioned if there was anything that could be done to tackle the perceptions of young people who think fast food is interesting compared to home cooked food. 

Jon Hobday explained that the perception of fast foods being interesting is due to expensive marketing.

·         Councillor Walmsley asked if there was statistics that explained the link of alcohol intake to adult obesity.

Jon Hobday explained that he does not have these statistics. Sarah Turton the lead for substance misuse has been exploring different models of working in relation to alcohol licences. A model that Leeds Council is using was explained, which works out statistics based on postcodes looking at alcohol related harm.

·         Councillor Birchmore raised a point about the importance of local green space for physical activity.

·         Councillor Brown raised a point about the importance of eating home cooked foods.

·         Councillor Holt questioned how to communicate the message of healthy eating and physical activity to families.

Jon Hobday explained that there is ongoing work with communities such as getting peers to explain to others how they do something, using their own experiences as examples.

·         Councillor Holt asked for more information on the Food Partnership.

It was explained that the Food Partnership is a meeting chaired by Councillor Simpson. Francesca Vale, Community Nutritionist is the Lead Officer for the meeting. There are numerous partners that attend the meeting such as health colleagues and colleagues from community services. 

It was agreed:

1.         Councillor Walmsley, as the Chair of Licencing would like to look at what Leeds Council are doing in terms of alcohol licencing, with a view to replicate the model in Bury.

2.         Obesity to be added to the work plan. The Health Scrutiny Committee to work positively with the licencing and planning departments, to tackle fast food density in Bury.