13 Nov 2018 Liverpool City Council and Partners sign the Local Government Declaration on Healthy Weight
Today Liverpool City Council are the 15th council to sign up to the Local Government Declaration on Healthy Weight, confirming their council’s commitment to promoting healthy weight in all policies.
The declaration has been signed by Cllr Paul Brant, Cabinet Member Adults and Health Liverpool City Council and Dr Sandra Davies, Director of Public Health and includes a number of local commitments including:
Children and young people
– Promote healthy weight and increase physical activity for children and young people through 0-19 commissioned services
– Promote the uptake of breastfeeding for babies
Campaigns
– Undertake behavioural insight work and social marketing campaigns to raise awareness and change behaviour to promote healthy weight (building on current success)
Communities
– Work with local communities to mobilize demand for healthy environments and food choices
Training
– All frontline staff in health and social care have training in brief advice so can provide consistent messages about healthy weight
The NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and seven NHS Trusts across the city have pledged to support Liverpool City Council’s declaration, commiting to preventative action to promote healthy weight across Liverpool. This joined-up, supportive, whole-systems approach very much showcases the great work going on in Liverpool, and we are hopeful that it will be as impactful as it is trailblazing.
Further to this, a number of North Mersey NHS organisations including South Sefton CCG, Southport and Formby CCG and Aintree Hospital are pledging their support today to Sefton’s Local Authority Declaration which was adopted on 27th July 2017.
Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, Dr Sandra Davies, said: “Obesity is a complex issue with many causes, including our behaviour, environment, genetics and culture.
“The figures are stark. Nearly two thirds of our local population are overweight or obese, a figure similar to the national average. Nearly a third of children aged 2 to 15 are overweight or obese. Younger generations are becoming obese at earlier ages and staying obese for longer.
“Unhealthy weight is a risk factor for a range of diseases including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Obesity can also reduce life expectancy by up to a decade, as well as causing many years of ill health and loss of independence.
“We are going to have to work together right across our city and consider making some very bold changes if we want to stop this epidemic of obesity from growing.
“We will have to do more than just change our behaviours. We will also have to change our physical and social environments in a way that supports and enables an improvement in health within our communities.”
Councillor Paul Brant, Cabinet member for public health, said: “Liverpool City Council recognises the importance of healthy weight to a thriving population and a vibrant city.
“In Liverpool one in five children start school overweight or obese and one third of children leave primary school overweight or obese, and these rates are increasing. We are committed to overturning these figures and to promoting a healthy weight for all of our residents through action on healthy eating and promoting increased physical activity.
“Liverpool has championed a successful “Fit for Me Campaign” through its Physical Activity and Sports Strategy, and will take action to promote healthier eating, by signing up to this Local Authority Healthy Weight Declaration, supported by our local NHS partners.
“Our Healthy Weight Declaration is an excellent opportunity to unite partners in the city, through the Council’s leadership on healthy weight as well as health and wellbeing in general.
“We will work with residents, schools, businesses and other organisations. Signing this pledge signals a determination to work together supporting local communities to make healthier lifestyle choices easier.”
Fiona Lemmens, a Liverpool GP and Chair of NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “As part of the local NHS commitment to supporting the Healthy Weight Declaration, 11 local NHS organisations will be signing an NHS Partner Pledge, demonstrating support for Liverpool City Council and neighbouring local authorities in taking this approach to reducing unhealthy weight in our communities.
“The pledge confirms our commitment as NHS partners to adopting a range of preventative polices which will help protect the health and wellbeing of our staff, patients and visitors, and improve the health of our population.”
To find out more about the Local Government Declaration on Healthy Weight, please email info@foodactive.org.uk or call 0151 237 2686.
