Reduce obesity among children and young people
You can read the summary below, or access the full versions in the right-hand column.
What will be different in one year’s time?
What actions are planned over the next year?
Why does this matter?
- The number of overweight and obese children has increased rapidly in the UK (between 1995 and 2005 the level of obese children aged two to 15 rose from 11.5% to 18.3%)
- Being overweight or obese can have a significant effect on children and young people’s mental and physical health, both now and in the future
- Being overweight or obese affects children’s emotional well-being and how they get along with others. They may feel stigmatised or ashamed and they may be bullied by other children. This can make children feel bad about themselves, and they may become depressed
- Those people who are overweight as children are at increased risk of heart disease. Recently, children and young people have started to develop Type 2 diabetes. Previously, this only affected people in middle age or later life
- The most significant long-term consequence of obesity in childhood is that children who are overweight are likely to stay overweight or obese as they become adults. Overweight young people have a 50% chance of being overweight adults. This increases their risks of being affected by adult diseases that are linked to obesity.
Where are we now ?
What the local data tells us about Nottinghamshire
The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) in Nottinghamshire County shows that almost one in four children in Reception Year are obese or overweight.
What children, young people or families tell us
Children, young people and families are increasingly recognising that being overweight is a problem. Increasing opportunities to take part in physical activity and healthy eating are seen as ways to maintain a healthy weight. The costs of leisure services have been raised as an issue but many people suggest more use of parks and open spaces.
What will be different in one year’s time?
- We will have developed and begun to implement the Nottinghamshire Obesity Strategy. This builds on the direction and guidance provided by Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives. The Nottinghamshire Obesity Strategy will provide a local framework for action on five central themes:
- Children: healthy growth healthy weight
- Promoting healthier food choices
- Building physical activity into our lives
- Creating incentives for better health
- Personalised support for overweight and obese children and young people.
- We will have pilot community level projects for physical activity for children, young people and families in place
- 75% of schools will have achieved National Healthy Schools Accreditation with 100% of schools engaged with the programme
- Those who work with babies, young children and their families will be trained in how to raise the issues of healthy weight, diet and exercise with parents and carers.
What actions are planned over the next year?
- Continue to record children’s Body Mass Index as required by national guidance. Develop and start to implement Nottinghamshire’s Obesity Strategy and action plan
- Develop our local children’s obesity care pathway
- Commission evidence-based weight management services for children and young people
- Develop, support and pilot community level projects for physical activity for children, young people and families
- Achieve the certificate of commitment towards the UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation across NHS Nottinghamshire County and Bassetlaw PCT
- Review our community nutrition services and implement recommendations across NHS Nottinghamshire County
- Develop a robust partnership to tackle obesity amongst children and young people
- Increase the take up of healthy school lunches and the number of pupils taking part in physicial activity in schools
- Train workers in early years settings, including Children Centre staff, to enable them to raise the issues of healthy weight, diet and exercise with parents and carers
- Support the roll out of the Early Years Test Bed and the Child Health Promotion Programme - soon to be known as the Healthy Child Programme
- Pilot the Healthy Early Years Standard
- Deliver training to all front line health staff working with children, young people and families in how to raise the issue of obesity with patients or clients
- Develop the communications plan for local activity around Change 4 Life
- Identify and improve breatfeeding data.
How will we measure impact?
- NI 55 Reducing obesity levels among primary school age children in Reception Year
Contact Information:
Lead Partnership Group:
Nottinghamshire Strategic Tackling Obesity Group
Strategic Lead:
Barbara Brady
Chair of Nottinghamshire Strategic Tackling Obesity Group and Consultant in Public Health, NHS
Nottinghamshire County and Bassetlaw PCT (Primary Care Trust)
For more information about how this work is being developed, contact:
Fiona Callaghan
Health Improvement Principal
NHS Nottinghamshire County and Bassetlaw PCT
Tel: 0300 300 1234.
