Obesity
Making the healthy choice easy
Oxfordshire has developed a four-pillared approach to creating a county that makes it easier for people to maintain a healthy weight and be active, says Ansaf Azhar.
The importance of the local
The local levers to achieve preventative change have often been badly understood by Governments and the interplay between local and national responsibility highlighted during the pandemic needs to be improved, says Professor Jim McManus.
The drugs won’t work
Short-term strategies like the latest drugs pilot to tackle obesity won’t fix the problem, says Professor Jim McManus. Bold decision-making that puts health at the heart of all policy is needed.
Council leaders blast Government over ‘sugar levy’
Council leaders have urged the Government to stick to its pledge to reinvest money raised from the soft drinks industry into anti-obesity initiatives.
Council leaders criticise food strategy as ‘missed opportunity’
Local authority leaders have criticised the Government’s new food strategy as a 'missed opportunity'.
How councils keep public health top of the agenda
It’s 175 years since England’s first municipal public health official was appointed, so how are local authorities performing at keeping people healthy? Professor Jim McManus takes the long view.
HMJ: AI set to be used to tackle obesity across Leicester
Leicester City Council will be using artificial intelligence to develop personalised weight loss plans to tackle obesity.
Councils should be at the centre of a renewed push on public health
Councils must be at the heart of a new, reinvigorated national push on improving public health provision and their funding for this must rise in line with the NHS budget, says Cllr Sir Ray Puddifoot.
Leisure centre closures threaten the drive to boost the nation’s health
Health secretary Matt Hancock does not want to be in the awkward position of calling on better prevention to reduce demand on the NHS just as leisure centres across the land are closing their doors, says Michael Burton.
By investing in parks society will reap long-term rewards
Over the past few months many have turned to parks as their daily release from the pressures of lockdown, says Paul O'Brien. The multiple benefits parks bring to society make them one of the best long-term investments Governments can make, he adds.
Taking the initiative together to tackle unhealthy weight
Kensington & Chelsea RLBC’s Go Golborne initiative has stopped the rise in childhood obesity in the ward, says Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke.
Starting early to tackle obesity
Jonathan Gribbin outlines how Nottinghamshire CC will use its inclusion in the Childhood Obesity Trailblazer programme to help the very youngest children develop healthy eating patterns before they start school.
pluggedin
Paul O'Brien ponders the new programme to tackle childhood obesity, and can't help wondering if any joined-up policy thinking is taking place on domestic matters while the shadow of Brexit looms large.