HEALTH chiefs are looking at new ways to tackle the alarming rise in obesity – after figures showed people in Warwickshire were failing to heed warnings.
Shocking figures from Public Health England revealed obesity levels in the county are spiralling.
In Warwick district one in every six adults, and one in every seven youngsters aged ten and 11, is now classified as obese.
Throughout Warwickshire the figure extends to 21 per cent of adults while worryingly, a National Child Obesity programme maintained one in every 12 reception-aged children fell into the same category.
Warwickshire County Council, which is responsible for public health, has already implemented a number of schemes to try and tackle the problem in recent years.
These include: whole family weight management programmes, 12-week exercise programmes and The Food For Life Partnership, which aims to ensure healthy food is sourced and cooked in many of the county’s schools.
But the release of the latest figures suggests the message is not getting through, and health chiefs have now vowed to review how best to try and cut the number of expanding waistlines.
County council health spokesman, Coun Bob Stevens, said: “Obesity and being overweight presents a very serious problem for Warwickshire and the most recent data shows it is getting worse.
“We are taking steps to arrest this with our partners and are strongly involved in projects directly aimed at tackling the lifestyle issues leading to people being overweight.
“We are working with schools, children’s centres, community centres, GPs and other services to engage with people, and not only educate them of the health dangers associated with being overweight, but also inform them of the lifestyle changes they need to make to bring their weight down.”
Warwickshire’s director of public health, Dr John Linnane confirmed all weight management services commissioned in the past 18 months had undergone or were currently undergoing a full service review.
He said: “Findings from the review are informing the future, which aims to halt the rise in obesity in Warwickshire.
“The review allows us to see which services should be stopped, kept the same or recommissioned to continue to make a positive difference in terms of supporting people sustain a healthy weight.”
He added the council’s focus would remain on children, families and young people going forward.
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/healthyeating for further information.
