Obesity strategy
Healthy weight, healthy lives
In England nearly a quarter of men and women are now obese. Even more worryingly, almost a fifth of 2-5 year-olds are obese while a further 14% are overweight. The government's stated objective is that by 2020, the trend in rising obesity and overweight among children will not only have been reversed, but will also have reduced to 2000 levels. Healthy weight, healthy lives is the strategy through which the government seeks to achieve this. Download the Healthy Schools briefing paper on the strategy. Published in December 2006, the NICE obesity guidelines highlight the important role that Healthy Schools can play in helping to address the problem of obesity and overweight.
In 2009, in Healthy weight, healthy lives: one year on the government stated its intention to develop the Obesity Improvement Programme, part of which is the best practice website Obesity Learning Centre and eLibrary. In 2010 in Healthy weight, healthy lives: two years on, the government reported that the latest data shows that the rapid rise in child obesity levels may be levelling off, thanks to the hard work of families, schools, businesses and the NHS across England.
National data, information and guidance
The government has established the National Obesity Observatory to provide a single point of contact for wide-ranging authoritative information, data and evidence related to obesity, overweight and underweight in the population. One aspect of the observatory's expertise has been shown in the development of a framework for the evaluation of childhood weight management in order to promote consistent recording standards across work in this area.
As part of the cross-governmental Obesity Improvement Programme, the Obesity Learning Centre and eLibrary aims to share best practice and provide links to information, guidance, training and tools on obesity. It is intended to support those people who work, directly or indirectly, on promoting healthy weight or tackling obesity.
South West data
The South West Public Health Observatory collects data for its Healthy weight for children hub. The hub is a data collection and interrogation tool that provides information and evidence to help those working to tackle childhood obesity in the south west. In contrast with the National Obesity Observatory, which collects data for the population as a whole, the SWPHO's hub concentrates on children's health.
Work in Cornwall
In Cornwall Sally Hayes is the Health Promotion Service's Senior Health Promotion Officer taking the lead on working on childhood obesity. She is also the healthy eating lead, with Mary Williamson, who is working with family groups in some schools using the Shape Up weight management resource.
Healthy Schools Plus
Healthy Schools Plus works with priority groups of children and young people, including those who are overweight or obese. The projects in schools identify healthier behaviour outcomes linked to local and national priorities, including aiming to reduce obesity. See our Healthier weight for children page, the Reducing obesity information sheet and Childhood obesity data.
See also our National Child Measurement Programme pages.