An article, local example of a press release and a motion from Liverpool can be found below. The full report can be found here and data for your area can be found here (just change the “region” tab in the top bar), and the (cross-party) LGA press release can be seen here.
Baroness Judith Jolly, who leads for the Liberal Democrats on Health issues in the House of Lords, has written of the urgent need to tackle the obesity crisis, referencing the LGA’s research that one in 25 children in England aged 10 or 11 are severely obese. She argues that junk food marketing on television should be banned before 9pm and that mandatory traffic light labelling, providing a quick source of information about how healthy food is, should be introduced on all packaging.
EXAMPLE PRESS RELEASE FROM LIVERPOOL ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY
On the day that the House of Commons Health Select Committee has issued a vital report on childhood obesity Liverpool’s Lib Dem Leader has tabled a motion to the Council’s Select Committee which urges the Council to take action against Childhood Obesity”
Cllr Richard Kemp says: “The latest report from the House of Commons Select Committee shows that approximately 5% of 11-year-olds are severely obese and that half are already seriously obese when they start school at the age of 5. On top of that another 25% are recognised as being obese at the age of 11. The figures for Liverpool are worse than the national average.
“I was heavily involved in drawing up the evidence for this which I then went on to present to the Select Committee on behalf of the Local Government Association.
“But now the report needs turning into action. The MPs asked for a whole systems approach to the issue which involves action by schools; councils; the NHS; youth centres; the media; supermarkets and so many more organisations. We can warn of problems; inform people of the amounts of sugar and salt in foods and how to avoid them. I reiterate once more my hope that people will turn to healthier food and drink such as Green Cola instead of branded goods such as Coca Cola with their huge marketing budgets.
“So, I have tabled a motion to the next meeting of the Health Select Committee of Liverpool Council:
“This health committee welcomes the recent report of the House of Commons Health Select Committee. It recognises that obesity currently costs the NHS £6.1 billion each year which does not count the increase in cancers caused by obesity or the muscular/skeletal failures caused by obesity which lead to shorter, unhealthier lives with much more medical and clinical intervention required.
It recognises further strong links between obesity and mental ill health.
It welcomes the work already being done by the Council in combatting obesity at all levels. It notes that this is a problem across all demographic groups but which proportionately affects lower income groups with more restricted food choices available to them.
It requests:
- The Director of Public Health and the Liverpool CCG to produce a report on both what is being done and what needs to be done in the city including details and the potential of the council’s work; health service interventions; youth service interventions and work that could be done with the private sector including retailers to coordinate action to reduce the purchase of food and drink containing excess levels of salt; sugar and trans fats.
- The DPH and Cabinet Member to work with Luciana Berger MP, a leading member of the Health Select Committee, to promote an ‘Obesity Summit’ in which the report can be presented and a full blown anti-obesity campaign can be commenced.
- A “Task Group” of this committee be established to coordinate actions in this vital field.
Cllr Kemp concludes: “This is entirely none political; recognises the need for local government and MPs to work together and would place Liverpool in the forefront of actions on this matter. I really hope that the Select Committee will realise the urgency of this and support it and get cracking with it.”