Richard CiencialaDeputy Director of Health and WellbeingDepartment of Health

A call to action on obesity: Progress and next steps

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tyThe scale of the challenge

• The UK has among the highest rates of obesity in the developed world.

– 63% of the adult population in England is either overweight or obese

– 19% of 10-11 year-olds in England are obese

• Some evidence of a plateau, too early to know if this is a trend – levels of obesity remain extremely high

• There is a strong association of child obesity with deprivation and still significant differences between ethnic groups

0.0

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%all adult men

all adult women

Obesity prevalence for adults in England

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tyA burden on individuals, the NHS and wider economy

• Compared to a healthy weight person, obese people are much more likely to develop high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes and obesity is a serious risk during pregnancy

• Children who become obese are very likely to stay obese through their adult lives, with associated health problems

• Direct costs to the NHS are estimated to be £5.1bn/year

• There is also a cost to the wider economy of around £16 billion, with the potential to rise significantly

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tyObesity – a public health priority

• The Government’s Call to action on obesity was published in October 2011

• National ambitions:

– A sustained downward trend in levels of excess weight in children by 2020

– A downward trend in the level of excess weight averaged across all adults by 2020

• Excess weight in adults and children (4-5 and 10-11 year olds) are indicators in the Public Health Outcomes Framework

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ty A complex problem…

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ty…requiring comprehensive, determinant–wide action

• A lifecourse approach, involving action across all age groups

• Population-wide measures matched by action tailored to support individuals

• Treatment given a growing focus, alongside prevention

• Providing information to underpin choice and transforming the environment to make the healthier choice the easier choice

• Recognising that increasing physical activity is important for good health but, for most of us who are overweight and obese, eating less is key to weight loss

• Building activity to maximise contributions across a wide range of partners

• Rebalancing local and national level action

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tyProgress – one year on

• Continued key national programmes:

- Change4Life, £14m three-year strategy with a series of campaigns

- National Child Measurement Programme, to become a mandated service for LAs from April 2013

- Roll-out of NHS Health Check – identification of overweight and obesity in 40 -74 year olds and support for change

• Invested in data and evidence through the National Obesity Observatory and Obesity Learning Centre

• Developing example service specifications to improve the commissioning of adult and child tier 2 lifestyle weight management services

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tyA growing focus on calorie consumption

• Built new partnerships with those with a role to play eg business through the Responsibility Deal

• Over 20 major companies have signed up to the calorie reduction pledge to cut and cap calories

• Calorie labelling has expanded rapidly in out of home settings. We will see labelling in 9,000 outlets across the country by the end of the year

• Front of pack labelling - consultation completed, key businesses announcing willingness to move position

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tyHelping people be more active

• Physical activity – CMO guidelines, National Ambition, Olympic legacy

• School Games – more than 14,000 schools registered

• Change4Life school clubs – engaging non-sporty young people

• Launched Games4Life, to encourage more than 1m people to get more active

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tyLooking forward – local leadership

• Local government will bring together the broad coalition of partners required to prevent obesity, and to build on existing work in areas like Cornwall

• Public Health England will provide data and evidence to support local action from April 2013

• Health and wellbeing boards will agree priorities and types of approach that make sense locally

• The NHS will retain a central role - making every contact count, clinical treatment

• NICE is developing new guidance to support local Government and the NHS

• Sharing knowledge and experience through events like today’s is key

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tyLooking forward – national-level action

• Continuing progress through the Responsibility Deal – wider sign up, work on promotion of food

• Intensifying work across Whitehall – public health as cross-government priority, eg National Planning Policy Framework

• Obesity Review Group – regular review of national progress

• Change4Life campaign will continue to provide information to support families and individuals

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tyConclusion

Questions and comments welcome

Thank you