Young People’s Scrutiny committed to tackling childhood obesity

The Young People’s Scrutiny Committee recently agreed to setting up a specialised Task and Finish Group to take on the challenge of childhood obesity in the county.

Recommendations to develop the group which will begin in the New Year, were agreed by the committee following a presentation from Shropshire Council’s Public Health on obesity in young people.

Obesity poses a major threat to population health and is placing an increasing burden on health and social care services. Rates of obesity have trebled in the past 30 years and the trend continues upwards.

In Shropshire, one quarter of adults is clinically obese, and two thirds are overweight.

Nationally, obesity is also occurring at a younger age and this is also reflected locally with more than 9% of Shropshire children obese by the time they enter reception class at school, rising to over 17% by the time they reach Year 6 (10-11 years old).
 
The presentation highlighted four key areas in Shropshire to be addressed;

• physical activity
• smoking in pregnancy
• breastfeeding and;
• the number of young people admitted to hospital as a result of self-harm

Councillor Joyce Barrow, chair of the Young People’s Scrutiny Committee said;

“We cannot ignore the impact obesity has on the health and mental well-being of our children and young people.”

“Obesity puts children at greater risk of developing diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.  Other health risks include early puberty, developing eating disorders, asthma, teasing and discrimination by peers, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.” 

“The facts show we have a growing problem with childhood obesity in the county and this is an ideal opportunity to see what’s being done to address it.”

Children who are a healthy weight are more likely to grow into healthy adults. In Shropshire, Public health programmes are designed to reduce inequalities in health and to help families of overweight children through early intervention, using family centred approaches that support healthier lifestyle behaviours.

Councillor Barrow continued;

“We are absolutely committed to tackling these issues and to ensure we develop the right support and incentives to encourage those positive behavioural changes in families with overweight children as early as possible.”

Public Health led programmes include:

• The National Child Measurement Programme in schools –  which provides parents with feedback on their child’s weight status as well as advice and support.
• LIFT (Lifestyle Inspiring Families Together) Service – which helps children and families to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
• Change4life programme – national  initiative to get people to eat well, move more and live longer
• Eat Better Move More programme – developed by Shropshire Councils Public Health team. The programme offers information and good practice to early year settings to create innovative ways to encourage more young children to eat a healthy, balanced and nutritional diet and engage in enjoyable sports and physical activities. The scheme uses improved national guidance on food and physical activity from the Children’s Food Trust and The British Heart Foundation national centre. 

A Healthy Weight Partnership Event was held on 26 November 2013 at the Lord Hill Hotel where key issues including causes of obesity, impact on health and opportunities for tackling obesity locally were discussed in more detail.

Professor Rod Thomson, Director of Public Health at Shropshire Council said;

“The recent Healthy Weight Partnership Event highlighted how important an issue tackling obesity in adults and children is to Shropshire Council and its partners.  The event brought together a wide range of local stakeholders to build commitment for a healthy weight strategy for Shropshire.”

Anyone in Shropshire who would like information and advice on living a healthy lifestyle can visit www.healthyshropshire.co.uk or call the Healthy Shropshire helpline on 0345 678 9025.  This number has been set up to provide a single point for people to go to for support with improving their health.   Advisers can help people looking to find out more about how they can be healthier, and prevent themselves or others from getting ill.
For more information about the Young People’s Scrutiny Committee, click here.