Agenda item

The Assistant Director for Health Improvement introduced this item to the Panel. She stated that significant action is required to prevent obesity at a population level to avoid creating “obesity promoting” environments as well as improving healthy eating and physical activity in individuals.

She informed them that obesity has been rising rapidly in children in England over the past 20 years with the proportion of children classified as obese nearly doubling for children aged 4- 5 years and increasing more than threefold for 10 -11 year olds.

She explained that the Shaping Up! Healthy Weight Strategy for B&NES describes our partnership approach to promote healthy weight and tackle the rise in obesity. She said that the strategy provides an overview of the current issues relating to healthy weight and focusses on what will achieve sustainable change. She added that eating well and being physically active go hand in hand so this strategy should be read together with the B&NES Fit for Life physical activity strategy and the Local Food strategy.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked what the feedback has been to the strategy.

The Assistant Director for Health Improvement replied that there was an annual review which could be circulated to the Panel. She highlighted some recent achievements.

·  UNICEF accredited Breastfeeding Service

·  Sustainable Food – Bronze Award

·  Director of Public Health Award (Physical / Food / Mental Health)

She added that the ‘Move a Mile’ initiative was to be introduced in schools to encourage further physical activity.

Councillor Alison Millar commented that process seems quite bureaucratic and asked does it give officers enough time to deliver the strategy.

The Assistant Director for Health Improvement replied it is a complicated issue that encompasses many partners. She added that with the three strategies in place it should be easier to implement their plans.

Councillor Tim Ball asked about the effects on children should they become aware of this matter through being assessed via the National Child measurement programme. He called for care to be taken on this matter and for school staff to be trained appropriately.

The Assistant Director for Health Improvement replied that there is an opportunity for parents to engage with school nurses following their receipt of a results letter. She said it is at the discretion of the parents as to whether they discuss it with their children.

Councillor Ball replied that in some households the children may be able to read better than their parents and asked for this approach to be individually assessed.

Chris Batten asked if the reduction of the Key Stage 1 grant for school meals would have an effect on this issue.

The Assistant Director for Health Improvement replied that she was not aware of this and would have to research the matter.

The Panel RESOLVED to:

·  Note the Shaping Up!  Healthy Weight Strategy and its relevance to Children and Young People’s health.

·  Note that while B&NES compares reasonably well for children’s obesity rates in comparison with similar areas we still have significant numbers of children whose health will be adversely affected as a result of their weight.

·  Endorse the importance of addressing obesity at a population level though creating health promoting environments and maintaining adequate health improvement services, including universal services, targeted support and specialist services through this period of intense pressure on local government finances.