Agenda item

The Board received a report and presentation providing an overview of the Gateshead Healthy Weight Needs Assessment.

It was highlighted that the report is an evolving document that aims to provide a factual overview of healthy weight across the life course.

From the presentation it was highlighted that obesity levels in the general population are too high. It was further noted that inequalities relating to childhood obesity are widening and that there are opportunities to shift towards a healthier local food and physical environment. The Committee were advised that this is a complex problem that can’t be addressed with ‘simple’ solutions.

The Committee were advised that there continues to be several challenges to tackling obesity. These include the lack of evidence as to what works in addition to perceived ineffectiveness of programmes and interventions. It was further highlighted that work needs to be done to combat ingrained attitudes and social norms.

A copy of the full Obesity System Map was presented illustrating the various factors that contribute towards obesity – these included food production, societal influences, food consumption, biology, individual psychology, individual activity and activity environment. It was also noted that urban planning can have a significant impact on opportunities for physical activity, promoting safer environments for walking, cycling and recreation.

From the presentation the Committee were also provided with a summary of the impact of obesity on children and young people and the effects of obesity in adults throughout their life.

It was noted that the annual cost of obesity to the wider economy is £27bn made up of the cost to the NHS, social care, obesity medication and obesity attributed sick days.

Maps showing children with excess weights 2016/2017 and index of multiple deprivation 2015 were presented in addition to a table of child obesity prevalence by regional deprivation and age.

An overview of adult key findings was provided noting the following points:

•       Nationally, 58% of women and 68% of men are overweight or obese.

•       Obesity prevalence increased from 15% in 1993 to 27% in 2015.

•       In Gateshead 69.0% of adults have excess weight (overweight and obese). This is significantly worse than the England average of 61.3% and regional average of 66.3%.

•       Almost two in every three adults in Gateshead has excess weight and around one in four are obese.

•       Nationally, only 66% of adults self-report that they undertake the recommended 150+ minutes of physical activity each week;

•       In the North East this is even lower at 64% and for Gateshead 63.2%

The Board were updated on the approach to Obesity taken in Amsterdam where success has been found in hitting multiple targets at the same time. It was noted that from 2012 – 2015 the number of overweight and obese children has dropped by 12% which is the biggest fall in obesity rates amongst the lowest socio-economic groups.

The following recommendations were put to the Board:

•       Develop a Local Healthy Weight Declaration for Gateshead.

•       Develop a long term and sustainable whole place approach identifying clearly priorities for local delivery.

•       Prioritise work to address health inequalities through proactive work to target groups at greater risk

•       Ensure an appropriate balance between population-level measures and more targeted interventions and approaches. Population approaches include:

–      Design of the built environment to promote walking and active transport

–      Build health into infrastructure through careful investment

–      Seek to reduce exposure to an obesogenic diet by focusing on the availability of energy dense foods and sugar-rich drinks, changes in procurement and innovative changes in advertising and promotion.

•       Encourage robust community led interventions to tackle obesity at a place level.

The following next steps were also identified and presented:

•       Creation of a strategic steering group to identify priorities.

•       Creation of an operational Healthy Weight Alliance to tackle this agenda.

•       Actions clearly identified taking into account the balance between tackling the wider environment and addressing the most at risk groups.

•       Maintaining and nurturing relationships and adapting the system, network and plans to reflect changing influences and emerging progress in Gateshead.

•       Lessons can be learnt from progress with other areas such as tobacco control.

The Board expressed its thanks to Emma Richardson for the detailed and interesting presentation.  It was noted that the complexity of this issue should also be a ‘call to action’ for partners on the Board.

Gateshead Council’s decision some years ago to invest Capital Funding in its Sports and Leisure facilities was highlighted. It was further noted that this effort has been undermined by austerity andsuch policies as planning deregulation. The use of the former ‘Local Fund’ was noted with an example of a project to tackle childhood obesity in Barley Mow provided as an example. It was also highlighted that the community and voluntary sector have a critical role in supporting this agenda.

It was noted that some schools continue to take part in the ‘Mile a Day’ scheme which has proven to be effective in maintaining a healthy weight in school age children. The public cost of supporting those who are obese was also noted highlighting the need for adapted properties, transport and hospital equipment.

It was said that talks are currently ongoing between Gateshead Public Health and Nexus to reduce the advertising of unhealthy/fast food on the Metro service. A discussion also took place aroundpeople’s lack of knowledge about home cooking and their reliance on convenience foods – it was highlighted that there needs to be more work done with parents and schools to educate children about making healthier choices.

RESOLVED:

(i)            The Board endorsed the high-level recommendations of the report.

(ii)           The Board agreed to receive a further update in six months.