Skip to main content

Issue - decisions

Obesity and Metabolic Diseases Report

25/04/2022 - Obesity and Metabolic Diseases Report

6.1.      The Committee received a report from Anna Raleigh, Director of Public Health, on obesity in Westminster. It was noted that the Council had launched the “Tackling Childhood Obesity Together” programme which demonstrated that a place-based approach was required and formed the basis of the current Change4Life Programme.

 

6.2.      The Committee reflected that tackling obesity was complex and multifaceted. Members discussed what levers the Council had to involve businesses.

 

6.3.      The Committee discussed the importance of joint working between Council directorates. Officers provided an example of effective cross-council working such as ensuring streets are well-lit so that residents felt safer to walk around the City.

 

6.4.      The Committee reflected on the Council’s physical health offer. Concerns were raised by Members regarding the lack of free indoor leisure activities during the winter and whether more after school clubs could be encouraged.

 

6.5.      Members further raised concerns that the report focused too much on encouraging physical activity and not enough on educating residents about healthy diets. Officers informed the Committee that the Change4Life programme was a whole-family approach and focused on supporting children, young people, families and carers to lead healthier and happier lives.

 

6.6.      The Committee also discussed the difficulty of reducing obesity rates. Senior Officers reflected that the Council needed to change its approach to tackling obesity and that a whole-systems approach would be required, with multi-agency working across the CCG and Northwest London.

 

Actions

1.         Scrutiny Officers to begin scoping for a Task Group on obesity in Westminster.