Organisations join forces to tackle obesity in Shropshire
Organisations across Shropshire came together at a recent event to tackle obesity in the county.
Over 120 participants from the health and social care sector took part in the Healthy Weight Partnership event at Lord Hill Hotel in Shrewsbury on Tuesday 26 November 2013 to find out more about the challenges in tackling obesity in the county.
The event, organised by Shropshire Council’s public health team, was open to all organisations and individuals for whom obesity has a direct or indirect impact. Attendees ranged from bariatric surgeons, physiotherapists, nurses, GPs, occupational therapists, councillors, to voluntary sector workers and environmental health workers.
The thought-provoking, half-day event explained the importance of tackling obesity, and featured a range of expert speakers drawn from the world of health, research and policy development. Speakers included:
- Professor Rod Thomson – Shropshire Council’s director of public health
- Dr Caron Morton – Accountable Officer, Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group
- Dr Kevin Lewis – Director of Preventive Health Programmes
- Prof Malcolm Whitfield – Sheffield Hallam University
- Prof Geof Rayner – City University London, Brunel University
- Councillor Karen Calder – Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health
- Patrick Ladbury – Project Director, National Social Marketing Centre.
Following the presentations, organisations were invited to give feedback on the issues raised, and support the development of a countywide ‘Healthy Weight’ initiative.
One quarter of Shropshire adults are clinically obese, and two thirds are overweight. Children are also affected, with more than 9% of 4- to 5-year-olds in Shropshire now obese by the time they enter reception class at school. Supporting people to achieve a healthy weight is a key priority for Shropshire Council and Shropshire CCG.
Councillor Karen Calder, a speaker at the event, said:
“Obesity poses a major threat to the health of Shropshire’s population, and places an increasing and preventable burden on local health and social care services. I was very encouraged to see so many organisations coming together to offer their support, and give their views on the challenges we face in the county around obesity. I would like to thank all of our partners, health representatives and the voluntary sector for contributing to the ‘Healthy Weight Partnership’ event; their feedback will help shape Shropshire’s ‘Healthy Weight’ initiative.”
Dr Kevin Lewis added:
“We all need to work together, as organisations, individuals, in our families, and as part of our communities, to look after our health and well-being and support those around us. This is why we are committed to working with a wide range of partners and local communities to address the issues of obesity in Shropshire.
“The feedback we have received from our Healthy Weight Partnership event has been really positive and encouraging.”
The Young People’s Scrutiny Committee had also recommended at their recent meeting to develop a specialised Task and Finish Group to take on the challenge of childhood obesity in the county. The group will begin in the New Year 2014, and recommendations from the group will also feed into the Healthy Weight initiative.
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.
Further information
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