Reducing obesity is one of the six priorities in the The Choosing Health white paper (2005) (PDF1107k). Chapter 3 describes the issues, targets and the action aimed at supporting children and young people (PDF1107k)
Obesity in children aged under11 increased nationally from 9.9 percent in 1995 to 13.7 percent in 2003. The government has set a Public Service Agreement (PSA) target to halt the year-on-year rise in obesity among children under the age of 11 by 2010. In Coventry approximately 18% of children and young people and 23% of adults are clinically obese. More information about the (PSA) target and related issues is available from the Department of Health (external website).
Government plans for nutrition, physical activity and obesity are described in the documents Choosing a Better Diet: a food and health action plan (2005) (external website) and Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan (2005) (external website).
Locally, an Obesity Strategy Group has been established to develop and deliver a strategy for Coventry. This group includes professionals from different agencies and organisations and is led by the Acting Director of Public Health at the Coventry Teaching Primary Care Trust.
Culture, Leisure and Libraries (external website) in Coventry City Council is developing a needs-led obesity project called 'One Body One Life'. The project is expected to start in January 2007 and will enable children, young people and families to make healthy lifestyle changes. It will help to improve diets and increase levels of physical activity. More information is available from the Development Manager – Health on 024 7683 2442.
Schools are required to set targets for healthy eating as part of the Coventry Healthy Schools Programme (Word doc.22k) and are supported directly by a Healthy School Coordinator and consultants.
More information is available in this directory about the following related issues
