‘No simple fix’ for child obesity levels

‘No simple fix’ for child obesity levels

Martin Knight made the comments after it was revealed that a third of ten- and 11-year-olds are overweight or obese and that levels had remained about the same since 2011.

The figures, from the Jersey Child Measurement Programme, also showed that there is a disparity between children living in rural and urban areas, with 35 per cent of Year 6 pupils in the latter category described as being over a healthy weight or obese. This compares to 25 per cent in rural areas.

Mr Knight said: ‘We know people living in urban areas and parishes within the town environment are more likely to have poorer health outcomes. There is less access to green space and more exposure to fast-food outlets and easy-reach, energy-dense foods.

‘I set that against the idea that families and parents recognise the problem. A lot of people are trying to make conscious efforts for their child’s health. We have got to recognise that against the backdrop of people living really busy lives.’

Mr Knight says work can be undertaken to address the ‘gap in health outcomes’ between different areas.

‘More and more we are understanding that health behaviours are impacted by the environment in which we live, work and play,’ he said.

‘It is not as simple as giving people the information in terms of how to live healthy lives. We need to start to recognise the environment and the reason why decisions are made.

‘It is about recognising when we do urban planning, if we want to increase physical activity, what access to green spaces do our children have? Also, how do we support more active travel?’

Mr Knight said that within its Common Strategic Policy, the Council of Ministers had pledged to address health issues and put children first.

He said work had already begun to encourage breastfeeding, as breastfeeding is linked to reduced levels of child obesity and that there had been some successful work in secondary-school canteens resulting in nutritional meals using the best-quality ingredients being produced.

He added that ministers were also going to provide more support to Caring Cooks, a charity that works to encourage young children to grow, cook and eat healthy food.

And Mr Knight said that next week a community dietician, who will support schools, was due to start work after the post was filled following a six-month vacancy.

However, he stressed that despite commitment by the government, childhood obesity would only be tackled in the medium- to long-term.

‘They [the figures published this week] are not a lot different from what they have been previously,’ he said. ‘There is no significant change. In a way we wouldn’t expect one – it is a complex problem.

‘It is something that is going to require long-term commitment. There is no simple fix and we need to be working together across the community.’

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