Knowsley has a major problem with obesity.
With some of the highest levels in the country of both childhood and adult obesity, it’s a problem projected to only get worse, according to a new council report.
The report, produced ahead of a meeting of the borough’s children and families board next week, states that nearly 14% of reception age children in Knowsley are obese, jumping to over 27% in Year 6 children.
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NHS data also shows the problem in adults is of significant concern, with 74% of adults in Knowsley overweight, the highest levels in the country.
The gap between Knowsley and the rest of the UK keeps widening too and is estimated to continue growing until by 2040 the difference between childhood obesity levels in the borough compared to the rest of the UK will be in the region of 20%.
With established links between obesity and deprivation, the situation will only get worse as the cost of living crisis deepens, according to the report.
In a bid to tackle the problem, Knowsley Council has been developing a new healthy weight action plan alongside NHS and third sector partners, using a “whole system approach” to tackle the issues feeding into the borough’s obesity problem.
Interventions aimed at pre-school and infant school aged children is described as a “key component to influencing change” although actions are also in place to target people at different ages.
The report, to be discussed at Knowsley’s children and families board to be held on Tuesday November 28, refers to three main programmes in place to tackle the issue in the borough.
These are early years training for staff working with youngsters in the borough, extended brief interventions with families dealing with obesity and a communication review looking at how to get the message across the families around healthy weight and healthy living.
Over 400 families have made use of the extending brief intervention, where following an assessment support and signposting is offered to help families make healthier choices.
The communication review is underway, with consultations taking place in settings across the borough, although this was hindered by the pandemic.
The report concludes that it “is not possible to understand the full impact” of the pandemic on obesity levels across Knowsley but that “it is clear it will be significant, and the trend is not going in the right direction.”
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