Agenda item

This paper sets out proposals for the Health and Wellbeing Board to take an active role in supporting a new strategic, whole systems approach to tackling childhood overweight and obesity in West Sussex.

The Health and Wellbeing Board is asked to: -

1)   Acknowledge the importance of this topic in West Sussex and endorse the new strategic, whole systems approach being outlined; and

2)   Provide feedback on ways in which the Health and Wellbeing Board will support this agenda.

31.1 The Chairman introduced the West Sussex County Council Start Well Public Health Consultant who presented the report on, ‘Reinvigorating a strategic approach to healthy weight for children in West Sussex’, that set out proposals for the Health and Wellbeing Board to take an active role in supporting a new strategic, whole systems approach to tackling childhood overweight and obesity in West Sussex.

31.2 The Board was informed that the Public Health Board had recently endorsed a paper outlining a new, strategic approach to children’s healthy weight in West Sussex, beginning with the launch of a Healthy Weight Steering Group in January 2020. Districts and boroughs were being asked to do the same through the Chief Executives’ Group. The Health and Wellbeing Board, as a wider strategic grouping of the key partners involved in influencing this agenda, was noted as a key to the success of this new approach and was now being asked to do the same.

31.3 It was explained that West Sussex compares favourably with national averages for childhood obesity although there were notable variations within the County. It was noted that crucially, weight was closely linked to emotional health and wellbeing, a key priority of the ‘Starting Well’ section of the West Sussex Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-24.

31.4 The Board noted the report and provided feedback on ways in which the Health and Wellbeing Board could support. In discussion the Board:

·         noted that West Sussex had average statistics for childhood obesity but acknowledged the importance of tackling childhood obesity and the need to support the whole systems approach;

·         stated that the whole systems approach should start with hearing the voice of the children;

·         pointed out that it was important to involve Housing as deprivation/temporary accommodation could mean no access to cooking facilities for fresh food;

·         suggested that public health teams build on their work with influencing organisations such as takeaways, supermarkets, hospitals, children & family centres and schools to make healthier options more accessible so that individuals were given opportunities to make healthier choices;

·         welcomed the ‘quick wins’ with the use of existing schemes such as Park Run and the Daily Mile in schools to promote exercise;

·         agreed that Community Based projects such as the Community Fridge Project (supplying fresh food to those in need) and Community Kitchen (teaching cookery skills) were good initiatives that could be utilised and expanded upon as an asset;

·         pointed out that consideration should be given to pre-teens and teenagers as a group when tackling child obesity; 

·         felt that there was a need to expand upon the Family Wellbeing Programme so that it was offered across the County and not just in two areas;

·         emphasised the need for systems leaders to challenge within their own organisations, for example healthy lunch options served during County Council meetings;

·         focus on the benefits of a healthy weight and do not ‘fat shame’.