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Councillors and committees

Agenda item

Healthy Weight Work in Gateshead - Progress Update

Report of the Strategic Director of Public Health attached.

Minutes:

Natalie Goodmand and Louise Harlandson, Gateshead Public Health Team provided the OSC with an overview of the scale of the problem in relation to child and adult obesity within Gateshead and the healthy weight work being carried out in Gateshead across the life-course as part of a whole system approach.

 

The Committee received an update on progress in relation to healthy weight work which was being focused through :-

·        The Gateshead Healthy Weight Alliance

·        Local Healthier Food Advertising Policies – these had been halted as a result of Covid 19 but were now being progressed again.

·        The Healthy Weight Declaration – this work had also recommenced after being dormant due to Covid 19.

·        Training on Healthy Weight /Nutrition via Making Every Contact Count Champions in Gateshead cascading messages to communities and colleagues in relation to 14 lifestyle topics / signposting to specialist advice or support

·        Wellbeing Walks Programme

·        Support to Public Health England in the development of a healthy weight intelligence tool and testing the tool at a local level.

·        Work with the Office of Health Improvement and Disparity (OHID) and Teeside University in relation to the approach to hot food takeaways and the food environment during Covid and the approach following the expiry of the temporary legislation.

·        20 Minute Neighbourhoods

·        The Spatial Planning Core Strategy

·        The CCG/ Local Authority Group review of current services and approaches to healthy weight across the system

·        Active Travel and Social Prescribing

·        Making Every Contact Count(MECC) training sessions delivered to primary care focusing on how to have conversations around lifestyle topics such as physical activity,healthy weight and nutrition

·        Regional Work – “A Weight off your Mind” led by CNTW NHS FT to support people with lived experience of mental health conditions and / or learning disabilities maintain a healthy weight.

·        The multi-partnership Maternal Healthy Weight Group focusing on work around healthy weight during pregnancy and potential interventions

·        Integrated Care System Core20plus Funding

·        The 0-19 years Growing Health Team of health visitors and school nursing services.

·        Implementation of the HENRY programmes

·        Active Mums sessions at Saltwell Park and Winlaton Mill

·        PHD Research projects in Gateshead

·        Gateshead School Sports Partnership

·        ESCAPE Pain pilot within the workplace.

 

A member of the OSC noted that the data indicates that breastfeeding rates in Gateshead are better than the regional average. However, the member of the OSC considered that the figures may be skewed as a result of a high proportion of mothers in the Jewish community breastfeeding and they highlighted an example of a poor support available for pregnant women and breastfeeding and indicated that they considered improvements could be made in this area.

 

The OSC was advised that in January 2022 a mapping exercise had been carried out for 0-19 Services which had highlighted a number of gaps and so they had brought a range of professionals together including a paediatric consultant to support as part of the Gateshead Healthy Weight Alliance. This had already led to work in relation to consistent messaging around the range of support available to residents of Gateshead so it was anticipated that this should help to change the position.

 

The OSC highlighted the letter sent out to parents of young pupils regarding their weight and considered that the messaging could be improved.

 

The OSC was informed that it was acknowledged that the letter as it stood could create barriers and this was an issue which had been raised regionally and Gateshead, along with Newcastle and Sunderland was looking to address this and at how parents could be supported.

 

The OSC queried how the issue of young pupils bringing in junk food in their lunch boxes could be tackled. The OSC was advised that the mini health champions in schools were tackling this through specific messaging to help young pupils understand what is in food and help them influence adults within their families.

 

 

RESOLVED                That the information be noted and the views of the Committee on the progress made to date be fed back to the Service.

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

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