28 March 2008
Councils should ensure obesity strategies are included in Local Area Agreements, a think-tank has urged.
The New Local Government Network also said, in a March 20 report, that councils should be rewarded for intervening early to prevent obesity by being given 50% of any resulting savings to the NHS.
Local authorities should be allowed to 'remove' any national targets that obstruct the LAA obesity strategy, provided they have consulted with the community, the report says.
Weighing up the advantages argues that LAAs should include a strategy covering areas such as improving school meals and access to sports. It examines obesity prevention efforts in six local authorities, concluding that there is 'extreme variation' in the amount of work they carry out.
But Westminster City Council is praised for policies aimed at improving access to healthy food in poorer areas and boosting opportunities for adults to become involved in physical activity.
Report author Michelle Redmond said: 'Government at the local level is the key to halting and reducing the obesity trend. Local councils have the ability to reach large numbers of the community through well designed LAAs with specific targets aimed at reducing obesity levels.'
PFmar2008
