Tackle rising obesity
The impact of obesity on health is a major issue for Nottinghamshire. The cost to the NHS is significant and also to wider society. Obesity is now considered to be public health enemy number two, after smoking.
The Healthcare Commission 2007 states that “This [obesity] is a very serious problem. There is a strong association between obesity and the major causes of premature death in adulthood, such as heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.”
Prioritising obesity across the Nottinghamshire population provides a real opportunity to work across partners, with particular collaboration between the Health and Well-being theme and the Children and Young People theme, thus ensuring a focus on early intervention.
Obesity has a very significant impact on health and quality of life, both in terms of morbidity and mortality; life expectancy is on average nine years less for those who are morbidly obese. It is a high risk factor for many diseases, including some cancers, diabetes and hypertension. The risk generally rises as levels of obesity increase.
Partnership work will form the basis of an early intervention programme with a parenting support angle and work in children’s centres to ensure accessible services.
