Obesity plan to tackle weighty problem in Worcestershire (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Obesity plan to tackle weighty problem in Worcestershire

7:10am Friday 25th January 2013 in News

By Robert Cox

OBESITY in Worcestershire costs an estimated £80 million a year to treat, with a quarter of adults suffering with the condition.

A quarter of the county’s primary children are also overweight or obese when they start school, according to Worcestershire County Council.

In response to the growing problem, Worcestershire’s health and wellbeing board has announced an obesity plan, to run from this year until 2016, that will encourage people to take responsibility for their own and their families' diet and physical activity habits.

Conservative councillor Marcus Hart, chairman of the board, said: “The situation is shocking and we must make healthy weight once again the norm in the county.

“In fact, the current generation of children are the first ever to be predicted to live shorter lives than their parents.”

The plan’s central aims are to develop a healthy workforce and tackle the current environmental factors that limit physical activity.

Frances Howie, assistant director of public health, said: “We will be offering more opportunities for free exercise such as walking and cycling.

“There will also be close working with schools, nurseries, care homes and larger businesses to improve the nutritional content of food served at their premises as well as ensuring physical activity is built into the working day.

“At the end of the day, we must all take responsibility that what we eat and how much activity we get is consistent with being a healthy weight.”