WELCOME

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: Introduction to the Strategy Dr Frances Howie Assistant Director of Public Health NHS Worcestershire

Why the strategy: national context National Strategy Healthy Weight in Worcestershire Workshop Worcestershire’s strategy Describing the Challenge Future

Why the strategy: national context National Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives Strategy, 2008 “the first step in sustained programme to support people to maintain a healthy weight” “ambition to be the first major nation to reverse the rising tide of obesity” (initial focus that by 2020 we reach 2000 level for children) Support people to make the right choices, individuals have the firs responsibility for their own weight Responsibility of government about access to information and for opportunities to make healthy choices

National Strategy “Britain is in the grip of an epidemic” But a clear and practical way forward Cross government is key Action is required by a range of influencers to impact on food consumption and physical activity Food producers, retailers, manufactures, restaurants, canteens, public transport/planners/leisure industry/in-home entertainment/hospitality industry/sports facilities, employers/education/media/health service, VCS, local government/LSPs, Very small role of the NHS, very large need for facilitation and change management

National Strategy: The Priorities Describing the Challenge Promoting Children’s Health Promoting Healthier Food Choices Building Physical Activity into Peoples Lives Supporting Health at Work Providing Personalised Advice and Support

And locally…. Last year a number of drives came together Increased awareness of the scale of the challenge Recognition of the cost to the public purse: increased disability, avoidable ill health and impending cost pressures Awareness of fragmented approach in the County Concern from the Health and Well Being Theme Group about fragmentation and the lack of a common connected approach across the County Health and Well Being Theme Group asked for a workshop

Healthy Weight in Worcestershire Two major presentations focussing on describing the problem in adults and children Small groups looking for creative ideas about normalising healthy weight Many people here were there! A long list of wide-ranging ideas including the need for a healthy weight strategy and action plan Many of those ideas were take into the action plan and will be presented today Highlights – Health MOTs, public engagement, getting into the workplace; evaluating MEND and creating something better in Worcestershire – food choices

Worcestershire’s strategy and action plan The Vision is: “a future where healthy weight once again becomes the norm in Worcestershire” Iterative Overseen by the Health and Well Being Theme Group now but changes ahead Worcestershire Partnership Health Improvement Policy Officer as key co-ordinator on the action plan New developments will be great but important to log the activity here to keep strategic direction and to record success

Describing the Challenge Our vision for the future is one where there is a full and accurate description of how many people are overweight or obese in the County, set against an understanding of the national picture, so that action and service planning can draw on an accurate evidence base which enables the identification of priority groups

Promoting Children's Health Our vision for the future is one where every child grows up eating well and enjoying being active

Promoting Healthier Food Choices Our vision for the future is one where the food that we eat is far healthier, with major reductions in the consumption and sale of food high in fat, salt or sugar and one where everyone eats 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day

Building physical activity into peoples lives Our vision for the future is one where individuals and families are able to be physically active on a daily basis and to stay healthy and well throughout their lives

Supporting Health at Work Our vision is a future where all employers value their employees health and where this is put at the core of the business plan

Providing personalised advice and support Our vision is a future where individuals have easy access to highly personalised feedback and information to encourage healthy behaviours and access to personalised services that can support them in reaching and maintaining a healthy weight

Describing the Challenge First of the priority areas Providing the evidence base Aims to update the health needs assessment To record as much qualitative and small scale data as possible to understand better what works locally To encourage health staff to measure and record BMI’s wherever possible

Describing the Challenge: Health Needs Public Health Website: Synthetic estimates of the number of people obese (BMI over 30) by district, (taken from countywide needs assessment 2009) Source: Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours: Model Based Estimates,

Trends in adult prevalence of obesity % obese from around the world International Perspective

Estimated number of people obese * Estimated numbers are based on the synthetic estimates which are created by the health survey for England, which have had the national percentage increase applied. areas may have a higher prevalence but lower number as their population size is smaller and other areas with large population sizes will have larger numbers although their population prevalence is small. ** National Data is generated from the Health survey for England

Proportion of children by weight category Year

The Future Achieved a lot, meeting challenges Keep it iterative/cross-sector/lively New opportunities from White Paper Same direction, more emphasis in partnerships (VCS, Business, LA) and personal responsibility coupled with support Cuts in funding further strengthens but achieving healthy weight will save money