Gloucestershire Aiming for Improved Co-ordination in Tackling Obesity

25/01/2008

Gloucestershire’s Director of Public Health, Dr Shona Arora today welcomed the launch of the national Obesity Strategy and said that it was consistent with the approach being taken in Gloucestershire to improve co-ordination of partnership efforts and place greater emphasis on prevention.

The rising levels of obesity have a number of, often complex, causes. These include poor eating habits, a lack of physical activity and other social and individual issues such as poverty, stress, lack of information and low self esteem.

The PCT believes that a Strategy for Tackling Obesity should be delivered in partnership as part of an overall plan to improve the health of the local population (both physically and mentally). It should be linked directly to plans for rural and urban planning, transport, food, physical activity, mental well-being and education.

The Strategy should also focus on prevention as well as treatment and ensure that the best possible support and advice is available to local people.

In Gloucestershire, there are already a number of projects which are aimed at tackling and preventing obesity.

Over 100 schools in the county are taking part in a three year programme called ‘Health 4 Schools’, which focuses on active play, cooking and growing food. There is also a Food in Schools project which brings together local partners to improve school food in Gloucestershire.

In the Cotswolds, the PCT is working with the District Council to provide community based weight management groups to local residents and in Gloucester, the ‘Be Good to Yourself’ project has made an impact with young Mums attending the Tredworth Early Years Centre to take part in a programme covering nutrition, cookery, stress and relaxation and physical activity.

There is also a number of innovative health improvement projects underway in Neighbourhood Projects, Children’s Centres and in pre-school settings.

Gloucestershire’s Director of Public Health, Dr Shona Arora said:

“There is a lot of good work underway which is helping to prevent obesity. However, often this good practice is patchy and there needs to be better co-ordination of activity across Gloucestershire.”

“Both the national and local strategies will aim to tackle this head on by promoting a partnership approach to co-ordinating developments in prevention, treatment, advice and support and training.”

Actions in the Strategy for Tackling Overweight and Obesity in Gloucestershire (2007-2017), which will be published soon are likely to include:

• ensuring family eating and physical activity is included in all antenatal and postnatal education
  
  
• increasing opportunities for physical activity within and outside school e.g. meeting the national target to increase the percentage of young people (aged 5-16) who achieve at least 4 hours of sport, physical education and physical activity
  
  
• working with Education to ensure that every school has a Food in School Policy
  
  
• extending the provision of exercise referral schemes to the whole county (GPs referring patients to leisure services)
  
  
• introducing weight management workers within all GP surgeries and council run leisure centres by 2010.
  
  

Further Information

The Strategy for Tackling Overweight and Obesity in Gloucestershire (2007-2017) has been developed by the Gloucestershire Health and Community Well-Being Partnership. The Partnership includes the NHS, local government and voluntary and community organisations. It is due to be published soon.