Childhood Obesity Project June 2008 – March 2009
Background
The RCC has been contracted to deliver this project by the IW Primary Care Trust using funding from the Department of Health’s Targeted Interventions Capacity Building Project for childhood obesity.
Latest childhood obesity statistics show that nationally obesity prevalence in children aged 2 – 10 rose from 9.9% to 16.7% from 1995 to 2005, an increase of 69%. On current trends, 20% of 2–10-year-olds – more than 1 million children – will be obese by 2010. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. In 2006, each Primary Care Trust was asked to record the height and weight of reception class and Year 6 children as part of the National Child Measurement Programme which aims to provide more accurate monitoring data in each area. The data collected on The Isle of Wight demonstrates that almost 30% of reception year children are either overweight or obese and this rises to 34% at Year 6. Taking rates of overweight and obesity together at Reception Year, the Isle of Wight ranks fifth worst out of all PCT areas in England.
Rationale
It is essential that local organisations across the NHS, IW Council and voluntary organisations locally work together in the fight against childhood obesity. This is because effective programmes to prevent and reduce obesity need to be address both lifestyles and environments, through interventions delivered in a number of settings. Programmes need to operate in the broader context of healthy public policies with a range of public services designed to create health-promoting environments that make healthy choices, the easy choices.
Obesity is a disease that is influenced by lifestyles and the environment people are living in. People live in what has been described as an “obesogenic” environment, where many factors seem to conspire against individuals, families and communities, making it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. There is a great deal to be done to increase the number of children adopting healthier lifestyles. Only 13.7% of 5-15 year olds and 15.4% of 16-19’s eat the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Almost one-third of boys and two-fifths of girls do not achieve the recommended weekly activity level of at least one hour of moderate intensity physical activity a day. 30 – 40% of children are now taken to school by car, compared to 9% in 1971. Effective partnerships have the potential to generate solutions to problems that single agencies cannot solve, can co-ordinate provision across organisations boundaries and avoid duplication in services.
Key deliverables of the project
• Between June and October 2008, a comprehensive mapping exercise will identify all Island services and organisations, within the statutory, third and business sectors, which have a potential role to play in the prevention and management of childhood obesity. As part of this mapping work, the project worker will also use opportunities to raise professional awareness of the range of obesity-related services beyond their own professional sphere, to encourage the development of links and networks.
• From November 2008 to March 2009, a draft care pathway model will be developed, that maps the journey of a child or young person through different levels of universal preventative services, assessment and treatment services relating to obesity. The development and implementation of a care pathway is a crucial component of an effective local infrastructure to tackle childhood obesity locally. The pathway will help to achieve greater consistency of professional responses leading to improved health outcomes for children and families and reduced rates of established childhood obesity.
• Finally, a project evaluation report will be produced to include recommendations for future multi-agency action.
Close working relationships will be maintained between the project and the Primary Care Trust and IW Council Commissioners for Children’s Services.
For further details please contact Elaine Garrett
Childhood Obesity Project Worker