Dr Arif RajpuraDirector of Public Health

Blackpool

@DrRajpura

A Healthy Weight StrategyFor Blackpool

The challenges we face • Economic– 6th most deprived local

authority in England– Lowest average wage

levels– Inadequate housing and

overcrowding– Low educational

attainment– High levels of

unemployment, benefit claimants,

– deprivation, crime, domestic abuse and transience

• Health– Worst life expectancy

rates for men in England – Third worst for women – Highest rates of liver and

lung disease in England– High prevalence of

cancer, heart disease and stroke

– Add to that high rates of mental illness, suicide, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse

Behind the Promenade…..

Population of 142,000 in only 35m2

95% White British 72% of adults carry excess weight34.9% of Adults are physically inactiveOnly one quarter of children eat 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables each day and 8% eat none37,000 people registered with Blackpool GPs are known to be living with long term conditions

Blackpool’s Healthy Weight StrategyThere are a wide range of activities and services within the town that will support people to eat more healthily and to reduce weight. These include education, prevention and awareness activities, through to treatment services.

No single magic bullet but a collection of measures, creating a synergistic whole.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts

• Free Breakfast for Primary School Children• Fit2Go Project • School Food Ambassadors and School Food Practitioner• Restricting Food and Drink Advertising and outlets• Early Years Physical Activity Project• Health Works Award and Healthier Catering Award• Health Buddies as part of a Wellness Service• Breastfeeding Out and About Scheme• Food Bank Partnership

Healthy Weight Strategic Themes

• To transform the environment to support healthy lifestyles

• Making healthier choices easier

• Secure services needed to tackle excess weight

Free School BreakfastsUniversal approach providing 11,000 free breakfasts daily to all primary school aged children.Improving Nutrient density – working with Children’s Food TrustReducing Waste – developing a School Food Practitioner Role, using School Food Ambassadors and Implementing the School Food Plan

Healthier Catering Award and Restricting Advertising

Using a Community Development style approach to create the award criteria and rewards for businessesWorking with Environmental Health to ensure food hygiene minimum standards are met.Linking with existing Health Works AwardLinking with the Breastfeeding Out and About SchemeControlling the Advertising panels on buses and tramsRestricting licences of mobile food vans and shops near schools

Early Years Physical Activity and Fit2Go Projects

Training of Early Years Practitioners within their settings on how to ensure babies and children achieve the CMO guidelines for physical activity

Fit2Go – Blackpool Football Club led helping Year 4 pupils to aspire to eating well and moving more

Health Buddies and Food Bank Partnership

Health Buddies are uniquely placed to support individuals who have confidence issues to attend activities or appointments. The Food Bank Partnership works together to coordinate food relief for those individuals and families in need. We have supported a change in foods requested for donation to ensure healthier options are available and provide recipes and links with the Cooking programmes available.

Broader Environmental OpportunitiesFood Active Programme

• Lobby for a sugar sweetened beverage tax• Ban on advertising of HFSS foods to children• Implement 20 mph zones in built up areas

Moving Forward

• Blackpool’s journey has just begun …• Any Questions?