The Salford Healthy Weight Strategy Headline issues and key recommendations

UK Foresight report: By 2050, 60% of men and 50% of women could be clinically obese Health impact of obesity: –58% type-2 diabetes –21% of heart disease –10% of non-smoking related cancers –9,000 premature deaths a year in England –Reduces life expectancy by 9-11 years. Costs of obesity: –National Health Service - £4.2bn –Wider economy - £15.8bn –Foresight estimate costs to economy of £50bn by 2050

Obesity rates in Salford 2006 SalfordEnglandSalfordEngland Obese14.5% 10.0%22.4%23.7% Overweight15.0%25.0%39.0%22.5% Obese and overweight 29.5%35.0% 61.4% 46.5% ChildrenAdults

Obesity in Primary School ages OVERALLCHILDREN IN RECEPTION CLASS (4-5 YEARS OLD) CHILDREN IN YEAR 6 (AGED YEARS) % Obese% Overweight% Obese% Overweight% Obese% Overweight

It is estimated that in Salford there are currently –39,000 obese adults, –68,000 overweight adults, –5,500 obese children and –5,700 overweight children

24.7% of reception children & 33.9% of year six children were overweight or obese. Rates are continuing to rise Rates more than doubled eg for obesity in year 6 from 8.9% to 18.9% in space of only five years (2000 – 2006)

England Salford Population51,000,000£216,400 Treating obesity£47,500,000£201,549* Treating the consequences of obesity £1,010,000,000£4,285,569 Sickness absence£1,375,000,000£5,834,314 Disability benefit£8,000,000£33,945 The economic costs Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates, 2004

“Insight” on the role of family Parents prioritise their children’s immediate happiness over their long-term health. Parents underestimate the amount they and their children eat and over estimate the amount of activity their family does. A host of ‘unhealthy’ behaviours have no perceived health risks to parents: e.g. sedentary behaviour, snacking, portion sizes. ‘Healthy Living’ is perceived to be a middle class aspiration which ‘at risk’ families believe is undesirable and/or unattainable While parents acknowledge childhood obesity is a problem they do not think of it as ‘their’ problem.

Key Recommendations Local Authorities Use policy and planning Promote active travel, physical activity, healthy foods Support community programmes to improve diet and activity levels Local authority workplaces Early Years Improve physical activity levels, Promote healthy balanced diet, Involve parents and carers

School policies and school environment Staff training Links with relevant organisations and professionals Activity and nutrition Interventions Workplaces Building design Policies and working practices Physical activity & food provision Education and promotion Health checks

Each additional kilometre walked per day is associated with a 4.8% reduction in likelihood of obesity, whereas each additional hour spent in a car per day associated with a 6% increase in likelihood of obesity. Frank, L., et al (2004) Obesity relationships with community design, physical activity, and time spent in cars, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27(2):