Childhood obesity is a growing public health challenge nationally and internationally. Obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers, and is often associated with poor mental health.
In Tower Hamlets nearly 1 in 7 children in reception (4-5 year olds) and over 1 in 4 of children in year 6 (10-11 year olds) are now obese. We have the fifth highest proportion of obese 10-11 year olds in London and the sixth highest in the country. Self reported data from children surveyed in years 6, 8 and 10 shows that, compared to the national average, fewer of our children eat three or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day and fewer participate in physical activity on three or more days per week.
Our aims and objectives
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To slow down the rate of increase in levels of obesity in primary school aged children in the short term (up to 2012) and in the longer term reduce the proportion of primary school aged children who are over weight or obese.
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To gain high level support and commitment from all members of the Tower Hamlets Partnership to the strategy.
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To actively involve the wider community.
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To increase participation in physical activity by creating social, cultural and physical environments that encourage and support active lives.
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To promote healthy eating by increasing the availability of and access to healthy food choices and reducing the availability of and access to foods that are high in fat sugar and salt.
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To create healthy organisations that encourage and support physical activity and healthy eating.
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To provide consistent, evidence based information, education and advice on how to maintain a healthy weight.
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To provide evidence advice, support and treatment for people who are overweight or obese, targeting high risk groups.
Our work areas
The Healthy weight, healthy lives in Tower Hamlets multi-agency strategy provides the broad strategic framework for tackling childhood and adult obesity in Tower Hamlets. Implementation of the strategy has been supported by substantial investment in a range of new preventative and weight management services in early years, schools, health and community settings and wider activity is coordinated through two multi-agency working groups focussed on early years and children and young people.
Tower Hamlets healthy borough programme – this is a two year pilot project funded by the National Cross-Government Obesity Unit to test innovative approaches to improving the physical and social environment to make it easier for children and families to be more physically active and eat more healthily wherever they live, work, travel, play or learn.
