Presented by Elaine Greenway.
Minutes:
The Board received a presentation from Elaine Greenway on Tackling Obesity in Havering.
In 2006/2007 Obesity cost the NHS £5.1 billion per year in comparison to £3.3 billion caused by disease associated with smoking. In comparison to other countries, the UK was on a similar gradient to that in the US. The health risks posed to obese Adults and Children are listed as follows:
Adults
• risks to health: heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers
• associated with muscular skeletal and respiratory diseases
• social difficulties (e.g. isolation / mental health)
• employment (employability, sickness absence)
• implications for social care (housing adaptations, specialist carers)
• associated with socio-economic status
Children:
• risks to health, including Type 2 diabetes
• can lead to stigmatisation, bullying, low self-esteem and exclusion from social interaction
• associated with socio-economic status
It was noted that during 2006-2008, Adult obesity in Havering was 27.3%, Children at Reception class was 11.2% but this figure doubled to 19.9% by the time children reached Year 6.
Obesity is not just a medical problem but a complex issue influenced by many associated factors such as:
• Physiology (genetic predisposition, resting metabolic rate)
• Individual physical activity (recreation, occupational activity, domestic activity)
• The environment (school sport, transport policy planning)
• Social psychology (education, media, peer pressure)
• Individual psychology (self-esteem, body image, stress)
• Food production (food labelling, salt content, fat content)
• Food consumption
The Foresight Report of 2011 into obesity made the following recommendations:
Local leadership
Strong partnerships between Local Authority (public health, transport, licensing, planning, environment, regeneration, etc.) CCG, other professional groups, voluntary sector, and community
Address the obesogenic environment: the healthy choice is the easy choice:
• the built environment
• active travel and transport policy, review local schemes and enhancements from a pedestrian or cyclist perspective
• nutrition: standards / signposting to healthy food options
Support to individuals
• advice and signposting by health professionals (preventative and for weightless: physical activity, nutrition, behaviour change)
• weight management services
Training:
• Education and training programmes for healthcare and frontline professionals
• Health impact assessment
Havering had a number of assets in place to address the problem of obesity including:
• Leadership (Health and Wellbeing Board)
• Sports infrastructure (parks / facilities / public and private gyms)
• Physical activity strategy
• Schools support for healthy lifestyles (e.g. Schools Sports Partnership, free breakfasts)
• Voluntary sector (Havering Sports Council, Havering Circle)
• School meals and Meals on Wheels
• Healthy walks & Havering Active
• Active travel: walk to school programme / cycling
• Love food / hate waste
• Library services (on-line resources / newsletters / volunteers)
• Primary care (GPs (Health Checks) / pharmacists)
• School nurses, health visitors, midwives
• Data: National Child Measurement Programme & Active People
• Breastfeeding friendly environment
Havering would require a joined up long term commitment to tackle the obesogenic environment. It was recommended that an action plan be put in place over the next eight weeks to give support to settings and individuals that can influence children’s health and weight including pre-conception, maternity, early years, school nurses and health visitors. In addition, to provide advice, signposting and support for adults via primary care, libraries, business, voluntary, community and faith sectors.
The Board agreed that obesity is a complex subject and requested that the presenter report back in two months following more research, in particular, into how other boroughs are addressing the issue.