Official figures show that in England, 61.3% of adults and 30% of children aged between 2 and 15 are overweight or obese. The cost to the NHS of this and associated illnesses is £5bn every year. Furthermore, obesity is the second most preventable cause of death in England. With these stark facts and figures in mind we feel now is an important time to come together and discuss and debate the key issues around tackling obesity to ensure people live healthier and more active lives.
Our Tackling Obesity policy briefing will focus on key issues in this debate including:
- Meeting the targets for 2020 to see a significant downward trend in both adult and childhood obesity
- How will the new health structures support the reduction in levels of obesity
- The impact of social marketing and new technology on tackling obesity
- Physical activity and the positive benefits towards weight management and a healthier lifestyle
- The importance of providing targeted advice for pregnant women on weight management to ensure they get the safest and most appropriate care
- Understanding the link between health inequalities and obesity
- The vital role of schools and retailers in tackling childhood obesity
- The wider implications of obesity on other illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease