tackling healthier weight conversations sensitively ... · offering practical tips and guidance on...

Tackling healthier weight

conversations sensitively

Childhood ObesityCharlene Mulhern - Public Health Workforce Delivery Manager Childhood Obesity, Health Improvement Directorate

@charlenemulhern

Prevalence of excess weight among childrenNational Child Measurement Programme 2016/17

Child overweight (including obesity)/ excess weight: BMI ≥ 85th centile of the UK90 growth reference

One in five children in Reception is overweight or obese (boys 23.2%, girls 22.1%)

One in three children in Year 6 is overweight or obese (boys 36.0%, girls 32.4%)

NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively2 NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively

Life course approach


Why workforce is important to the

Childhood Obesity Plan

Key Challenges

• Identification: We may not identify ourselves or our

children as obese

• Inequality: Obesity does not affect groups equally

• Complexity: Obesity is the outcome of a complex set of

factors NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively6 NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively

Identification


Societal influencesIndividual psychology

Biology

Activity environment

Individual activity

Food Consumption

Food Production

Resources to tackle healthier

weight conversations sensitively

Lets talk about weight guide

The ‘Let’s Talk About Weight’ tools support

health and care professionals to have

conversations about weight with adults, children

and families and refer into weight management

services.

The tool and infographics provides a step by step

guide to conversations on weight management,

offering practical tips and guidance on raising the

issue of weight, referral considerations, making the

offer of referral and following up with patients.NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively11 NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively

12 NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively

Consistent messages for the workforceHealthier weight promotion: consistent messaging

Resources to help the health and social care workforce provide a consistent set

of healthier weight messages for children, young people and families.

A set of training tools

• preconception and maternity

• birth to aged four

• age five to eighteen NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively13 NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively

Consistent messages for the workforceA set of 6 infographics for use in practice

Childhood obesity animation: This video

demonstrates for all health and care professionals their

vital role in supporting children, young people and

families in maintaining a healthy lifestyle to prevent and

reduce childhood obesity, from pregnancy through to


15 NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively

National Child Measurement ProgrammeImproving information, advice and support for parents

‘Your child’s weight’ practical tips

and support for parents

Healthy Weight

Calculator redesign

Pre-measurement leaflet

16

Our Healthy Year

Parents results letter

NHS EXPO Tackling Healthier Weight conversations sensitively

Training and support available



How do you measure impact?

The ‘All Our Health’ framework for

England is a resource which supports

health professionals to give families

the best advice to ensure a focus on

healthy weight. The resource provides

tools and resources to support

‘health promoting practice’ with quick

links to evidence, impact measures

and top tips on what works.

Contained within the suite of tools and

resources to support healthcare

professionals is:

Childhood Obesity: applying All Our

Health;

Adult Obesity: applying All our health

and;


Key publications and resources

Key publications and resources• Childhood Obesity Plan https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-

for-action/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action

• Evidence and guidance on childhood obesity, to help families and communities intervene and help

change eating and activity habits. Childhood obesity: applying All Our Health

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-applying-all-our-health/childhood-

obesity-applying-all-our-health

• Guidance on commissioning weight management services

www.gov.uk/government/publications/best-practice-guidance-for-weight-management-services

• National child measurement programme operational guidance

www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-child-measurement-programme-operational-

guidance

• The Eatwell Guide

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/510366/UPDATED_Eatwel

l-23MAR2016_England.pdf

• Lets talk about weight toolkit

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/620405/weight_ma

nagement_toolkit_Let_s_talk_about_weight.pdf


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-applying-all-our-health/childhood-obesity-applying-all-our-health

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/best-practice-guidance-for-weight-management-services

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-child-measurement-programme-operational-guidance

http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/510366/UPDATED_Eatwell-23MAR2016_England.pdf

Key publications and resources• Everybody active, every day: an evidence-based approach to physical activity www.gov.uk

www.gov.uk/government/publications/everybody-active-every-day-a-framework-to-embed-physical-activity-into-

daily-life

• Physical activity infographics: https://www.health-

ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/Physical%20activity%20for%20pregnant%20women%20infogra

phic_FINAL.pdf

• The six high impact areas These documents identify 6 areas where health visitors have the highest impact

on the health and wellbeing of children aged 0 to 5 years

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-of-public-health-services-for-children

• Healthy Start voucher scheme can be used to help families on a low-income buy basic foods such as milk

and fresh or frozen fruit www.healthystart.nhs.uk

• Information Service for Parents www.nhs.uk/start4life

• Change4Life www.nhs.uk/change4life

• Everyday Interactions Toolkit – Childhood obesity impact pathway https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-

work/policy/measuring-public-health-impact/childhood-obesity.html

• Portion size – introduce concept of portion size appropriate http://www.cwt.org.uk/wp-


http://www.gov.uk/

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/everybody-active-every-day-a-framework-to-embed-physical-activity-into-daily-life

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/Physical activity for pregnant women infographic_FINAL.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commissioning-of-public-health-services-for-children

http://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

http://www.nhs.uk/start4life

http://www.nhs.uk/change4life

https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/policy/measuring-public-health-impact/childhood-obesity.html

http://www.cwt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Eating-Well-First-Year-of-Life-Web.pdf

tackling healthier weight conversations sensitively ... · offering practical tips and guidance on...

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