Obesity Conferences Key note speech

Child Obesity Conference: 

Child Obesity Conference

Purpose of the conference: 

Purpose of the conference To show participants how to tackle obesity within their existing frameworks. To learn about examples of good practice at different levels of intervention; To give participants the necessary tools to deal with various issues around obesity, in particular using appropriate language and interventions; To ensure that participants working with school and communities receive the latest obesity messages from the Cross-government Obesity team; For participants to receive information on the National Weighing and Measuring exercise.

The Cross-Government Obesity PSA Programme: 

The Cross-Government Obesity PSA Programme

The Obesity Epidemic: 

The Obesity Epidemic 'The epidemic of obesity poses one of the most serious public health challenges in the WHO European Region. The trend is particularly alarming in children and adolescents' - WHO European Charter on counteracting obesity Nov. 2006

The Obesity Epidemic: 

The Obesity Epidemic Prevalence of adult and child obesity in England in 2005 Source: Health Survey for England 2005 updated trend tables (The Information Centre)

The Obesity Epidemic: 

The Obesity Epidemic Source: Health Survey for England 2005 updated trend tables (The Information Centre) Shaded area represents predicted figures - Zaninotto et al. (2006).

Slide7: 

International trends on the rising prevalence of overweight children England demonstrates one of the worst trends in Europe in the acceleration of obesity Source: International Obesity Task Force briefing paper, March 2005. NB: Other countries use different methodologies and some data may be self-reported 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 Year % overweight children USA Netherlands England France

Why is Obesity a problem?: 

Why is Obesity a problem?

Slide9: 

Source: Calle et al. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1097. Relationship Between BMI and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

Economic impact of Obesity: 

Economic impact of Obesity Source: NAO, Healthcare Commission, Audit Commission. Tackling Obesity – First Steps. 2006. Cost of obesity to the NHS is approximately £1billion per year Cost of obesity to the economy as a whole is approximately £2.3b - £2.6b per year By 2010 the annual costs to the economy could be £3.6b per year

Childhood Obesity: 

In addition, evidence suggests obese children suffer from: stigmatisation from an early age onwards into adulthood poor self esteem depression poor social functioning bullying social exclusion lowered academic achievement Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity tracks into adulthood

Slide12: 

No single factor exists to which the rise in childhood obesity can be attributed… Positive energy imbalance Nutrition (calories in) Energy dense foods Changing food marketing Less food prepared in the home Poor eating patterns Larger portion sizes Less breastfeeding Physical activity (calories out) Convenient lifestyles Rise in sedentary pastimes Less unsupervised outdoor play Less sport in schools More car journeys, especially to and from school Increasing Decreasing

Slide13: 

Research from consumer panel: Source: TNS Family Food Panel 2003, for Ofcom Obese children have less homemade food

Slide14: 

Prevalence of obese children by parental obesity Demography of Obesity

Demography of Obesity: 

Demography of Obesity % of population who are obese 20+ ≤10 10-12 13-14 Source: ‘Zaninotto et al. (2006). Regional Differences 15-20 English Children aged 2 – 10 in 2003

Slide16: 

National Weighing and Measuring Exercise New events: 2007 New guidance based on lessons learnt to strengthen reporting, data uploading and data analysis; Regional consultation through PHOs (January – March 07); Central government focus on improving parent’s and children’s understanding of exercise. Why are we weighing and measuring? Use public health data to raise public consciousness on the issue of obesity; Raise awareness of childhood obesity and engage all stakeholders in the delivery chain; Build an integrated approach to PSA delivery and the links between health and education throughout the delivery chain. What we we doing with the data centrally? Database will be extremely powerful tool for analysing, interpreting and tracking childhood obesity; Will allow detailed exploration of associations (e.g., with local level deprivation) and trends.

The Government Response - PSA target: 

The Government Response - PSA target To halt the year-on-year rise in obesity among children aged under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole. Cross–government target with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

The Obesity PSA Strategy: 

The Obesity PSA Strategy Child Obesity Conference

Attitudes are changing: 

Attitudes are changing The Expenditure and Food Survey, published on 18 January 2007, Change in estimated quantities of food and drink purchases in the UK

Slide20: 

Universal preventative programmes address diet and/or activity for all children Healthy Start Diet [calories in] Activity [calories out] School Food Play Food promotion Obesity Social Marketing Community Sport Department of Health Department for Education and Skills Department for Culture, Media and Sport Department for Transport Sure Start Travel to school Breastfeeding Fruit andamp; Veg scheme Healthy Schools

Slide21: 

Fundamental to success: the need for evidence and action learning the need to work in partnership The Obesity PSA Strategy

Contact information: 

Contact information obesity@dh.gsi.gov.uk