Healthy weight and good food

Many people in Stockton-on-Tees are overweight or obese. Some groups have much higher rates than others, showing clear inequalities. 

Helping people achieve or maintain a healthier weight, and ensuring people have access to good food, is complex and requires system wide, collaborative action.

Whilst overall the levels of overweight and obesity are high, there are also particular groups at increased risk, including those living in areas of high deprivation.  Therefore, both universal and targeted approaches are required, proportionate to the level of need.

It is important to recognise that weight and diet cannot be viewed in isolation as they are interconnected with many aspects of people's lives. Therefore, it is essential to take a community-centred, whole person approach, rather than focusing on excess weight in isolation.

Access to good food is an important factor, and a variety of initiatives are in place to support children and families on low incomes to eat healthily.

Examples are:

• the Healthy Start Scheme
• free school meals
• breakfast clubs
• Growing Well Growing Healthy team supporting healthy habits
• the Holidays are Fun programme (HAF)
• the work of the Stockton-on-Tees Food Power Network

The auto-enrolment for Free School Meals in Stockton-on-Tees will support more children to receive a healthy meal, as will the government's expansion of breakfast clubs.

There is strong evidence of the link between breastfeeding and reduced likelihood of developing obesity. Breastfeeding support in Stockton is available from the 0-19 infant feeding team. There is also a breastfeeding Friendly Scheme helping to identify those businesses that are pledging to help normalise breastfeeding and support our breastfeeding families in the community. However, breastfeeding rates in Stockton at 6-8 weeks old remain lower than the national average.

As outlined, the causes of obesity are complex, and more needs to be done to transform Stockton-on-Tees into a healthy place that supports people to eat well and achieve a healthy weight. This transformation will need to include changes in many areas, particularly in relation to the food environment, but also including changes to planning, green spaces, walking and cycling infrastructure, and school and work environments.  

Work with communities also has a central role to play, as communities themselves are best placed to identify and mobilise assets and opportunities that are accessible and acceptable to members of their communities.   

The Public Health Small Grants Scheme is one initiative that is supporting local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations to take forward their ideas for supporting their communities to:

• eat well
• be more active
• connect with one another

Another important need in relation to healthy weight relates to the importance of taking a sensitive and supportive approach. The stigma associated with obesity can affect people's mental and physical health. This can lead to further weight gain and make people less likely to engage with healthcare professionals.