Agenda item

To receive the independent Director of Public Health Annual Report for 2021/22 which is focused on healthy weight in children and highlights the importance of creating the conditions to enable all children to be a healthy weight.  The report will be presented by Gill O’Neill, Executive Director of Public Health, Inequalities and Stronger Communities, and Kaat Marynissen.

Members received the independent Director of Public Health Annual Report for 2021/22 which focused on healthy weight in children and highlighted the importance of creating the conditions to enable all children to be a healthy weight.  The report was introduced by Gill O’Neill, Executive Director of Public Health, Inequalities and Stronger Communities, and a presentation made by Kaat Marynissen, Public Health Trainee.  A copy of the presentation is filed with the signed minutes.

Gill O’Neill reported that this was Liz Morgan’s final report and a good legacy for her on this important issue.  Many Board Members had contributed to the report, and it was added that all of the case studies were Northumberland based.  Kaat Marynissen highlighted the key points of the Annual Report:

•       Healthy weight was incredibly important for physical and mental health being associated with lower rates of anxiety and depression.  Children were more likely to do well at school.  Economically, there were huge benefits as obesity was the second highest burden on the NHS after smoking.

•       In Northumberland in 2020/21, 26.7% of children aged 4-5 years were overweight or had obese and 40% by the age of 10-11 years.  2021/22 figures were very similar.  Covid did have an effect with a national trend of increased obesity and there was still an increase on pre-pandemic figures.

•       Obesity was more likely to affect boys, particularly relating to severe obesity.  The Northumberland trend was following the national trend.  Poorer households were disproportionately affected by obesity

•       It was now believed that obesity was not just individual responsibility and ‘willpower’ but also caused by environmental factors.  Within the home, barriers to healthy weight included increased portion sizes, healthy food was less affordable than calorie dense alternatives particularly for poorer households.  Poorer households had to spend almost half of their disposable income to eat healthily, whereas it was only 11% for the wealthiest fifth of households.  The cost of living crisis was creating increased use of food banks.  Breastfeeding rates were increasing in Northumberland over the last three years but was still below the national average.

•       Reliance on takeaway food had increased during the pandemic and this trend was continuing.  Advertising also tended to be for more unhealthy food (HFSS – high in fat, salt and sugar).  Barriers to physical activity included access to equipment, confidence and skills (such as cycling).  Northumberland was a car dependent culture due to its rurality.

•       Schools were trying to add physical activity in the daily routine and provide healthy and nutritious food.  There was an issue for some families which were not eligible for free school meals but could not afford to provide a healthy packed lunch and may resort to unhealthier options.  Physical activity was known to reduce with age especially in girls. 

•       There was still a lack of recognition of weight issues amongst parents and healthcare professionals and a lot of stigma surrounding weight.  This made it difficult to breakdown some of the barriers.  A lot of data was available and thought needed to be given as to how to use this going forward.

•       Northumberland County Council had recently signed the Healthy Weight Declaration and the Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy and there was a lot of good work ongoing.

•       Recommendations of the report were:-

•       Reframing our approach – moving from an individualistic approach to look at supporting children to live health, active lives through schools, the home, communities and healthcare systems.

•       Communication and sharing good practice – clarifying what support was available to help families achieve and maintain healthy weight and how to access the support.

•       Collaboration – develop a healthy weight alliance to build on the good work already being done bringing communities and agencies together to ensure a coordinated approach.

•       Strategy development and implementation – healthy weight to be a core priority in strategies such as the Northumberland Food Insecurity Plan and Northumberland Physical Activity Plan.

•       Using data and local insights – make best use of data to inform plans and prioritise future work to target areas where they are most needed.

The following comments were made:-

•       It was queried how easy it was for Northumberland County Council to influence schools which were now academies and how receptive they were to this type of approach.  It was explained that it was proposed to have a total reset and start the conversation with schools again.  It was hoped that the Healthy Weight Alliance would have a strong education component and build on the good work happening in lots of schools.   The 0-19 Team would work collaboratively with schools as part of its new model.

•       As yet there were no instances of Northumberland County Council refusing permission for new hot few takeaways within 400m of a school.  The policy had been in place since March 2022 and was yet to be tested.  It was reported that both Newcastle and Durham had refused takeaways as a result of their policies.

RESOLVED that

(1)    the content of the DPH Annual Report 2021/22 be noted;

(2)    comments on the contribution that Health and Wellbeing Board partners can make to healthy weight in children be noted;

(3)    the findings in the independent DPH Annual Report 2021/22 attached as appendix 1 to this report be agreed and endorsed.