Tackling Child ObesityTackling Child Obesityin Hertfordshirein Hertfordshire

Anka JohnstonChildren's Healthy Weight Manager

Public HealthNHS Hertfordshire

anka.johnston@hertfordshire.nhs.uk25/04/2012

Main Health Consequences Main Health Consequences of Childhood Obesityof Childhood Obesity

Short-term (for obese children) Increased risk of poor

psychosocial health Reduced quality of life Presence of

cardiovascular/ metabolic risk factors

Asthma exacerbations

Long-term (for adults obese as children)

Persistence of obesity Poor long-term educational

and economic attainment Increased risk of premature

mortality

Public Health Outcome Indicator - Excess Weight in 4-5 &10-11 yr old

Excess weight = Overweight and Obesity

“New National Ambition” Sustained downward trend in the level of

excess weight in children by 2020

National Child Measurement ProgrammeNational Child Measurement Programme

NCMP Results Hertfordshire 2010/11NCMP Results Hertfordshire 2010/11

Excess Weight in Children Excess Weight in Children Starting Primary SchoolStarting Primary School

Excess Weight in Children Excess Weight in Children Leaving Primary SchoolLeaving Primary School

Increase in Excess Weight Increase in Excess Weight during Primary Schoolduring Primary School

6.8% increase

Reception Results by DistrictsReception Results by Districts

Year 6 Results by DistrictYear 6 Results by District

A Very Complex ProblemA Very Complex Problem

Calculating Future Costs of Excess Weight to Hertfordshire 2015 2025

(£ million /year)

Total NHS costs of all related diseases

£ 413 £ 456

NHS costs attributable to excess weight

£ 134 £ 176

NHS costs attributable to obesity alone

£ 83 £ 112

Estimated wider total costs of excess weight

£ 572 £ 789

Source: Foresight report Tackling Obesities: Future Choices Method: cost scaled by 2.12%; the Hertfordshire proportion of the England population

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Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in EnglandA call to action on obesity in England

“A new level of ambition” A life course approach tackling excess

weight in all age groups

Increasing physical activity is important but eating less is key to weight loss

Treatment will be increasingly important alongside prevention

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A New Integrated ApproachA New Integrated Approach

Child poverty

Lack of awareness re appropriate weights for children

Parental beliefs “healthy lifestyles too challenging”

Developing a whole community approach targeting families

Limited staff/ resources for prevention and treatment work

ChallengesChallenges

Effective Prevention as part of aEffective Prevention as part of a‘Whole Family Approach’‘Whole Family Approach’

Under 5’sMore support

Pregnancy Breast feeding Healthy Introduction of

Solid Food Group programmes on

healthy lifestyle/ cooking sessions

Primary school children

More support Healthy School

Programmes Parent Champions After-school

programmes

Tailored to the target population

How can we make a How can we make a differencedifference

Partnership working

Focus on key priority groups

Supporting social marketing campaigns

Brief intervention skills for all frontline staff

Transforming the workplace

Combining teaching life skills with healthy weight promotion

Becoming role model