Health strategy weighed up by Barnsley Council

30 June 2008                                                                         

A HEALTHY Weight Strategy, action plan and Food Strategy were agreed today (Monday, 30 June) by Barnsley Council’s Cabinet members, in a bid to tackle obesity in the borough.

Life expectancy in Barnsley is less than in some other parts of the country – as much as 11 years less in some parts of the borough. Obesity is a major contributor to these health inequalities.

Obesity increases risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and depression and shortens life – by 10 years on average.  It impacts negatively on an individual’s self-esteem, mental wellbeing, performance at school and levels of employment.

Obesity levels have trebled since the 1980s and is being experienced locally, nationally and internationally. It is the foremost public health issue facing the country today. In Barnsley:

• Over a third of 10 to 11 year olds are overweight or obese,
• 40 percent of adults in their fifties are obese,
• it is estimated that  one in 20 adults is morbidly obese,

Barnsley has also been identified as an obesity hotspot – the eighth highest borough in the country for risk of obesity.

The causes of obesity are complex and caused by our twenty first century lifestyle.  Humans have evolved to store up fat for hard times – but in today’s environment there are many more opportunities to gain weight than to lose it.  “Health Champions” are being trained to work alongside individuals and communities.  They support people to make the necessary lifestyle changes.  The Local Authority and partners have a crucial role to play in making the necessary environmental changes.

In Barnsley consumption of fruit and vegetables is low, with diets high in fat sugar and salt. There are low levels of physical activity and rising car use..

The Healthy Weight Strategy and action plan will work with a number of partners such as the Physical Activity Sport and Active Recreation steering group, Barnsley Food Network, Fit for the Future, Children and Young People Strategic Partnership, Adults and Community Wellbeing Strategic Partnership and the Partnership for Transport.

A range of approaches are underway  to prevent and reduce obesity in the population as a whole, particularly amongst children.

The Barnsley Food Strategy and action plan will also be used. The Food Strategy provides a co-ordinated approach to improve diet and reduce levels of obesity in Barnsley as well as addressing economic and environmental issues in relation to food. It has been developed in collaboration with a wide range of partners across the borough to reflect the whole food chain – from farm to plate.

Some £2.4 million of health funding has been committed to tackle obesity in Barnsley between 2008 and 2012. In addition to this the Primary Care Trust has identified and extra £500,000 per year of recurrent funding in the Local Delivery Plan.

The Government has also announced the opportunity for local authorities and PCTs to put forward joint bids for up to £5 million of match funding to help develop Healthy Towns, as the next step for delivering on the cross government obesity strategy. This was welcomed by Barnsley Cabinet members.

Cabinet Spokesperson for Health and Adult Services, Cllr David Bostwick, said: “The adoption of the Healthy Weight Strategy and action plan will enable a co-ordinated response to this major public health issue for the borough, bringing together a range of partners who need to work together.”

ENDS

Issued by Press Office 01226 773375 pressoffice@barnsley.gov.uk