Published: Thursday 30th January 2020 | 4.59pm
Cannock Chase Council’s Cabinet have approved at their meeting tonight to implement a new district-wide health improvement programme, ‘Cannock Chase Can’ to tackle obesity and its wider health impacts..
The Council will work closely with the Community Wellbeing team at Inspiring healthy lifestyles and other partners to develop an exciting new health programme which will focus local efforts on supporting the Government’s Child Obesity Action Plan.
Public Health England (PHE) data indicates that 74% of adults in Cannock Chase aged 18+ were overweight or obese in 2017/2018. This was close to the highest rate of excess weight across the West Midlands in 2017/18 and above the England average (62%).
Excess weight (overweight and obesity) among children in Reception school year (aged 4-5) saw a fall in 2017/18 but remained above the England average of 22.6% with 26.4% of Reception age children overweight or obese in the District.
Overweight and obesity increased among Year 6 children aged 10-11 during the same period to 37.1% during 2017-2018. Whilst this is not the highest in the West Midlands, it is again above the England average of 34.3%.
Councillor Gordon Alcott, Deputy Leader of the Council said: “I am pleased to announce the new Health Improvement Programme, ‘Cannock Chase Can’ which will launch across Cannock Chase District later this year and will include the development of a health improvement/prevention plan. This plan will include various methods of promotion and engagement to encourage participation and behaviour change.
“The focal point for the programme will be the ‘Cannock Chase Can’ online portal which will enable residents to sign up to the programme and create personal profiles including target weight, personal goals and individual health journeys. It will also provide information about healthy eating, physical activity and advice about how to make healthier lifestyle choices. It will host a variety of challenges which can be undertaken as an individual, group or family.
“The programme will include education projects with local schools as well as customised initiatives with local businesses including fast food takeaways and supermarkets.”
Councillor Christine Martin, Leader for Health and Wellbeing said “The Council is committed to improving the health of its local residents and has allocated £61,500 towards the development and implementation of this new health programme.
“The aim of ‘Cannock Chase Can’ will be to help tackle poor health and obesity by changing behaviours and attitudes towards healthy eating and physical activity and making healthier choices easier to make”.
“The programme will launch later this year with a promotional campaign and event to encourage as many local residents as possible to sign up and change their lives”.