“Going forward a step change is needed to look at interventions to prevent obesity as part of a whole system and not in isolation.”
That’s the view of Southampton practitioner academic Ravita Taheem who was asked to contribute to a national NIHR Themed Review looking at how local authorities can prevent obesity.
A growing problem
Obesity is a major public health concern and puts people at risk of chronic disease and reduced life expectancy. According to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, in 2020 to 2021 there was a sharp increase in the obesity prevalence in children in Reception and Year 6 – the largest increase recorded in the National Child Measurement Programme since it began in 2006 to 2007.
The NIHR review drew on the expertise of staff at local councils and national organisations, as well as practitioners, researchers and members of the public. They gained valuable insights to address key questions about how local authorities can intervene to reduce the growing issue of obesity in the UK.
Ravita’s view
“Obesity prevention continues to be a major public health priority,” she said.
“Public health teams have been asked to take a whole systems approach and recognise that local authorities are in a unique position to work with partners and influence the local drivers of obesity. This review gives local authorities a list of key ways in which they can intervene and help target obesity.
“To support a whole systems approach and build the evidence-base, future research should consider how interventions interact with the context and explore how they change the system to prevent obesity.”
The review findings
The review suggests ways in which local authorities can:
· influence what people buy and eat
· encourage healthy schools
· expand access to public sports and leisure services
· promote active workplaces
· provide weight-management programmes
· design built and natural environments
· enable active travel and public transport
· prevent obesity in children and families
· embrace system-wide approaches
Ravita’s research
Ravita is currently doing a PhD looking at how local government policy can tackle childhood obesity. Her research is supported by the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and Southampton City Council.
She is a Senior Public Health Practitioner at Southampton City Council and is committed to promoting better health in communities. Her work focuses on reducing childhood obesity and other organisations to support a healthy weight environment in the city.
She said: “The ultimate aim of my research is to highlight the complex factors involved in local government decision making to inform actions that public health officers can take to influence and progress policies for tackling childhood obesity.”