New strategy looks to slash obesity rates

Almost 1,500 young people and families from across Tayside have used their voices to shape a new healthy weight strategy aiming to reduce obesity rates across our communities.

Launched by NHS Tayside, the new Child Healthy Weight Strategy aims by 2030 to halve the proportion of Tayside’s children who are affected by obesity.

Children were able to give their views on the barriers to healthy eating and the challenges faced particularly by young people living in poverty, which were used to inform the strategy.

Dr William Cook is a dietetic consultant in public health at NHS Tayside and worked closely on the strategy.

He says: “Child healthy weight needs to be recognised as a societywide issue, and that means everyone working together so actions are based on a true understanding of the lives of our children, young people and families in Tayside.

“Some of the feedback from children and young people included the fact that convenience of fast foods and ready meals is seen as an issue – the wide availability and easy access to these makes it too easy to eat unhealthily.

“It also included body image and the negative effects of social media, reality TV, advertising.

“Peer pressure affects young peoples’ perception of how they look.

“A challenge for many young people is the distance and cost of transport to activities.

“It’s often seen as a treat rather than the norm.

“Young people also recognised that companies widely advertise and promote unhealthy foods to make it seem appealing or cheap.”

The strategy’s vision is for every child in Tayside to grow up in a supportive environment that enables them to feel healthy and ready to learn so that they can flourish.

It also aims to ensure Tayside families can eat well, drink well, be active, enjoy playing outdoors and achieve their healthiest weight.

The five main ambitions include:

• Child healthy weight is seen as a society-wide issue

• Children have the best start in life

• Our environment supports healthier choices

• Families get helpful weight management support

• Families and communities in most need are our main concern

One of the strategy’s key aims is to reduce the “healthy weight inequality” that exists for children who grow up in poverty.

Tayside is particularly vulnerable to high rates of obesity as it is home to some of the most deprived areas in Scotland.

Dr Cook said: “We know that around one in four Primary 1 children in Tayside are at risk of obesity. This picture has not changed over the last 20 years.”

FOOD: Dr William Cook is a dietetic consultant in public health at NHS Tayside.