Agenda item

Jon Hobday, Consultant in Public Health to present report on healthy weight. Report attached.

Jon Hobday, Consultant in Public Health provided an update to the Board on healthy weight.

Obesity was described as a massive public health issue due to the huge associated costs and implications to both physical and mental health challenges.

The impacts of the wider society on obesity were explained. There has been a shift in society perspective and therefore it was difficult for individuals to take healthy choices and maintain a healthy weight. This is because compared to several decades ago, jobs are now less active, high-density foods are readily available and transport has changed.

Obesity doesn’t affect people equally, those in the most deprived groups are much more likely to be obese. This year, a Kings Fund report explained that there has been an increase in equality in the last two years and those in the most deprived groups are twice as likely to be hospitalised due to obesity conditions. The inequality gap is getting bigger and there needs to be more done to stop this.

Statical information was shared, 63% of adults in Bury are overweight or obese which is approximately 84,000 people. The levels of obesity have been stable over the last few years and in line with national levels.

In regard to children, the national increases in overweight and obesity levels in reception are reflected in Bury’s results where we have seen an increase in overweight and obese children between 2018/2019 and 2020/2021, from 23.6% to 41.9%. However, in contrast to national trends, Bury has seen a decrease in overweight and obesity in year 6 children, from 34.9% in 2018/2019 to 29.9% in 2020/2021. It is currently unclear what factors have contributed to these significant variations, but more work is underway to better understand the data. 

There has always been a gap between the least and most deprived children in terms of obesity levels in reception aged children, but this has risen over the last two years, with a more significant rise in the most deprived children. There has been a concerning rise in the year 6 cohort between the least and most deprived children. It was felt that this could be the impact of the lockdown due to children not going to parks and soft play areas.

In Bury, work is being done to prevent and address obesity and help reduce inequalities through the food strategy and the physical activity strategy. 

Jon Hobday explained that there is a health improvement fund which has been opened up for community organisation to put in bids on how they could enhance the wellbeing of their communities, they have been inundated with good ideas and have just under £100,000 worth of bids.

Questions and comments were invited from members.

In response to a member’s question around measuring children locally in between reception and year 6, it was explained that the programme in a national programme and the time and resources it would take to measure every child each year could be directed in better ways. It was explained that it is important to work with communities to see what will work best in their area. An environment needs to be made where the healthy choice is the easiest choice.

In response to a member’s questions around peer support, it was suggested that peer support was important when looking at ways to address and prevent obesity.

Lesley Jones explained that whilst it is only right to support individuals in weight management, 84,000 adults in Bury are overweight or obese and there is not the resource to provide 1-1 support for each individual. It was explained that the food environment and the way food is produced has the biggest part to play in obesity. It was felt that lobbying and advocating upwards for a healthier food environment needs to be considered as a part of the strategy.

In response to a member’s question regarding statistics of obesity by ethnicity, it was explained that people from the black ethnic group have the highest obesity levels out of all ethnicities; followed by the Asian ethnic group, people with a mixed ethnic background, and then the white ethnic group. It was explained that the BAME community has clear inequalities in relation to obesity.

In response to a member’s question around how to make it easier for people to make the right choices, it was explained that there were many key elements to this, such as ensuring that there are local green spaces, planning policies, safe lighting, and good public transport. There are many combinations of factors that can contribute to people making the right choices. It was explained that a lot can be learnt through European countries.

In response to a member’s question regarding raising awareness of obesity with schools, Jon Hobday agreed to create PowerPoint slides to be shared with Head Teacher through their learning sessions.

In response to a member’s question around initiatives that schools, colleges and workplaces can do to promote healthier weight, it was explained that looking after residents’ health is important. There is a Public Health funded post, which give businesses templates for healthy work charters. It was explained that this work could be built on.

It was agreed:

1.        Jon Hobday to provide schools with information regarding obesity levels of young people.

2.        To build on the work that is being done with businesses around the healthy work charters to see if businesses could promote different initiatives.