Obesity is on the increase – and more people are overweight

OBESITY is on the increase in Warrington – with one in four adults (25.8 per cent) now obese compared with 19.3 per cent 10 years ago.

Prevalence of excess weight increased from 55.1 per cent in 2013 to 60.3 per cent last year – mirroring the national trend. Obesity is more prevalent in women in every age band.

The figures are contained in a report to Warrington Health and Wellbeing Board.
Obesity level among adults living in the most deprived areas of the borough are 60 per cent higher than those in the least deprived (31.3 per cent versus 19.1 per cent.
Takeaway consumption is higher in men and deprived areas.
A higher proportion of men than women eat takeaways/fast-food at least once a week,irrespective of age-band.
But when it comes to home-cooked food, fewer men eating it at least 5 days a week than women (60.6per cent vs. 66.9 per cent).
Weekly fast-food consumption is higher among residents living in more deprived areas than less deprived areas (40per cent vs. 30 per cent).
Takeaway consumption decreases with age, while home-cooked food increases.

But fruit and vegetables consumption is decreasing and is lower in men.
Less than half of people eat the recommended 5-plus portions of fruit or vegetables per day.
The report suggests prioritising weight management service provision to deprived communities, with a focus on female residents.
There should be more campaigns to raise public awareness of healthier food choices and support.
Local planning regulations and licensing could be used to restrict takeaway density/opening hours and promote nutritious food outlets that support healthier choices in these areas.
There should be more access to affordable, healthier food, through food banks, community pantries, growing programmes and improved public transport to healthy food outlets, supported by meal planning, budgeting and cooking skill-building.
Consideration should be given to restricting local fast-food advertising as well as pressing for national regulation of unhealthy food advertising
across all media.
The government should be encouraged to introduce policy measures to help make healthy choice the easy choice – nutritional labelling in food outlets, restrictions on unhealthy food product placement and portion size regulations.