Healthy weight and good food

There are a wide and complex range of determinants of obesity. Many of these are not "lifestyle choices", but wider determinants of health that make it more likely for someone to experience obesity. For example, poor diet and low physical activity are key drivers of being overweight or obese but the food options or physical environment where someone lives often makes it more or less likely for someone to eat well or be active.

A systems map developed as part of the Foresight report of 2007, identified over 100 causes of obesity.   

These causes were grouped into factors relating to:

• food production
• food consumption
• societal influences
• individual psychology and or activity
• activity environment
• biology

Many of the complex causes of obesity can not be addressed solely through individual responsibility, particularly when considered in relation to inequalities. There is not one solution to tackle such an ingrained and wide-ranging problem.The Public Health England Whole Systems Approach to Obesity outlines how local action to promote healthy weight across the life course requires a coordinated and collaborative approach to support change.

Examples of the challenges and opportunities relating to wider determinants

Food environment and food insecurity

There is a high concentration of fast-food outlets in the most deprived areas in Stockton-on-Tees, which makes unhealthy food convenient and available. There is a high level of food insecurity in the Borough, with over 30% of adults going hungry, struggling to afford food or worrying about their food situation. (Please note - there is a separate JSNA section planned on Poverty which will deal with the topic of Food Insecurity in more detail.)

Transport

Not all households have access to a car, bus journeys have been declining and active travel (walking and cycling to work or school) in Stockton-on-Tees is lower than the regional and national average.

Greenspace

Greenspace is not equally accessible for all communities across Stockton-On-Tees and more than 1 in 10 household residents within the more deprived areas have no access to private outdoor space. 

Planning

Planning levers have the potential to be used to help achieve healthy weight environments. 

Examples of how they could be used are:

• helping to ensure that community and healthcare facilities are part of new developments
• ensuring well designed buildings with adequate space for bike storage and kitchen facilities
• helping to avoid over concentration of hot food takeaways

Work and education

An individual's job role and income can have an impact on their weight and their diet, depending on the work environment and role that they occupy.

Health literacy

Over 40% of people aged 16 to 64 in Stockton-on-Tees are thought to have low levels of health literacy skills which results in people finding it more difficult to understand health risks or advice.