What impact do recent public health initiatives have on lowering or managing childhood obesity? A case study from the UK.
Childhood obesity is a serious public health issue that affects millions of children and adolescents worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 5-19 has risen dramatically from just 4% in 1975 to over 18% in 2016. In the UK, the situation is even more alarming, with one in three children being overweight or obese by the age of 11 (NHS, 2019).
The causes of childhood obesity are complex and multifactorial, involving genetic, biological, behavioural, social and environmental factors. However, one of the main drivers of the obesity epidemic is the obesogenic environment, which refers to the availability and accessibility of unhealthy foods and drinks, coupled with the lack of opportunities and incentives for physical activity. To address this challenge, various public health initiatives have been implemented in the UK in recent years, aiming to promote healthy eating and active living among children and their families.
One of the most prominent initiatives is the Childhood Obesity Plan, launched by the government in 2016 and updated in 2018 and 2020. The plan consists of a series of measures, such as introducing a soft drinks industry levy, restricting the advertising and promotion of high fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) foods, setting sugar reduction targets for food manufacturers and retailers, improving school food standards and physical education provision, and supporting local authorities to create healthier environments. The plan also includes a national child measurement programme (NCMP), which measures the height and weight of children in reception (aged 4-5) and year 6 (aged 10-11) and provides feedback to parents on their child’s weight status.
Another notable initiative is the Change4Life campaign, launched by Public Health England (PHE) in 2009. The campaign aims to inspire and support families to make small changes to their diet and physical activity habits that can lead to big health benefits. The campaign uses various channels and tools, such as mass media, social media, websites, apps, leaflets, posters, events and partnerships with schools, local authorities, retailers and other organisations. The campaign also provides specific advice and resources for different groups of children, such as those from ethnic minorities, low-income families or with disabilities.
To evaluate the impact of these public health initiatives on lowering or managing childhood obesity, a case study approach was adopted. A case study is a research method that involves an in-depth investigation of a specific phenomenon or situation within its real-life context. The case study selected for this paper is the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the UK, but also one of the most successful records of reducing it in recent years.
According to the NCMP data, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among reception children in Tower Hamlets decreased from 25.8% in 2016/17 to 23.3% in 2019/20, while the national average increased from 22.6% to 23.6%. Similarly, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among year 6 children in Tower Hamlets decreased from 42.6% in 2016/17 to 38% in 2019/20, while the national average increased from 34.2% to 35.6%. These results suggest that Tower Hamlets has made significant progress in tackling childhood obesity compared to other areas in the UK.
The success of Tower Hamlets can be attributed to a combination of factors, including strong leadership and governance, effective partnership working, community engagement and empowerment, evidence-based interventions and continuous monitoring and evaluation. Some of the key interventions that have been implemented in Tower Hamlets are:
– Healthy Schools Programme: This programme supports schools to adopt a whole-school approach to promoting health and wellbeing among pupils, staff and parents. It covers four themes: healthy eating, physical activity, emotional health and wellbeing and personal social health education (PSHE). Schools that meet certain criteria are awarded with bronze, silver or gold status.
– Healthy Early Years Programme: This programme supports early years settings to adopt a similar approach as the Healthy Schools Programme, covering six themes: healthy eating and oral health; physical development; communication
and language; personal social emotional development; health protection; safety
and wellbeing; leadership management
and workforce.
– Healthy Families Programme: This programme provides intensive support to families with children aged 0-5 who are at risk of or affected by obesity. It involves home visits by trained health professionals who offer tailored advice on nutrition,
physical activity,
breastfeeding,
weaning,
sleeping,
toileting
and behaviour management.
– Healthy Zones Programme: This programme aims to create healthier environments around schools
and early years settings by restricting
the availability
and accessibility
of HFSS foods
and drinks,
encouraging
active travel
and reducing
air pollution.
It involves working with local businesses,
transport providers,
planners
and residents to implement measures such as banning junk food advertising,
introducing healthier menus,
providing bike racks
and planting trees.
The case study of Tower Hamlets demonstrates that public health initiatives can have a positive impact on lowering or managing childhood obesity, if they are well-designed, well-implemented and well-evaluated. However, it also highlights the challenges and limitations of such initiatives, such as the need for sufficient funding, resources and capacity, the difficulty of changing entrenched behaviours and attitudes, the complexity of measuring and attributing outcomes and the risk of widening health inequalities. Therefore, it is important to recognise that public health initiatives are not a panacea for childhood obesity, but rather a part of a comprehensive and multi-sectoral strategy that requires sustained commitment and collaboration from all stakeholders.
Works Cited
NHS. “Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, England, 2019.” NHS Digital, 2019, https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet/statistics-on-obesity-physical-activity-and-diet-england-2019. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.
Public Health England. “Childhood Obesity Plan.” Gov.uk, 2020, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.
Public Health England. “Change4Life.” NHS, 2021, https://www.nhs.uk/change4life. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.
Tower Hamlets Council. “Tower Hamlets Childhood Obesity Prevention Strategy 2019-2024.” Tower Hamlets Council, 2019, https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/Documents/Public-Health/Childhood_obesity_prevention_strategy_2019-2024.pdf. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.
World Health Organization. “Obesity and Overweight.” WHO, 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight. Accessed 11 Jan. 2024.
