Obesity

Thursday 23rd October, Victoria Park Plaza - London, 09:30 - 16:00

Tackling Obesity: Working Towards A Healthier Nation

“Tackling Obesity is the most significant public and personal health challenge facing our society. The core of the problem is simple – we eat too much and we do too little exercise. The solution is more complex. From the nature of the food that we eat, to the built environment, through to the way our children lead their lives – it is harder to avoid obesity in the modern world…it is not the Government’s role to lecture people, but we do have a duty to support them in leading healthier lifestyles. This will only succeed if the problem is recognised, owned and addressed in every part of society.”

Rt. Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State, Department for Health, Jan 23rd 2008

Overview

The Government published a new £372 million strategy Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives(January 23rd 2008), designed to help everyone lead healthier lives. This innovative strategy supports the creation of a healthy society – from early years, to schools and food, from sport and physical activity to planning, transport and the health service. It will bring together employers, individuals and communities to promote children’s health and healthy food; build physical activity into our lives; support health at work; and provide incentives more widely to promote health. It will also provide effective treatment and support when people become overweight or obese.

The strategy comes at a time when nearly a quarter of men and women in England alone are classed as obese. The trends for children are even more cause for concern, with 18 per cent of 2 to 15 year olds currently obese and a further 14 per cent overweight. The obesity trend will not be halted overnight, and has been some 30 years in the making and continues to cost the country billions in pounds. If it continues, millions of adults and children will inevitably face deteriorating health and lower quality of life and the country will face spiralling health and social care costs.

Dramatic and comprehensive action is required if we are to stop the majority of society becoming obese by 2050. The strategy is the first step of what the Government promises to be a major policy focus over the coming years as it seeks to tackle this ongoing problem. An annual report that assesses progress, looks at the latest evidence and trends, and make recommendations for further action is expected to follow in the near future.

Agenda

09:30	Registration and Coffee
10:15	Chair’s Welcome Address Dr Colin Waine, Chair, National Obesity Forum
10:30	Delivering and Implementing the Cross-Government Health Strategy Recommendations and Implications of the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives Cross-Government Strategy Effective implementation of the strategy at all levels - the importance of partnership working Promoting healthier living at all levels - importance of joint up services, from early years, to schools and food, from sport and physical activity to planning, transport and the health service Challenges faced in delivery and implementation - solutions Significance of early intervention and pro-active solutions Best practice Oliver Smith, Deputy Director for Programmes and Delivery, Cross Government Obesity Unit, Department of Health
10:50	Exploring the Obesogenic Environment Findings of Tackling Obesities: Future Choices and Modelling Future Trends in Obesity and the Impact on Health report Force behind the escalating obesity epidemic Prevention measures Professor Klim McPherson, University of Oxford and Foresight Team
11:10	Prevention and Management of Obesity: NICE Guidelines Implementing NICE guidelines School and family bases intervention programmes Prevention of obesity in schools and work Evidence based programmes Maintenance of weight loss Dr Caroline Mulvihill, Analyst at the Centre for Public Health Excellence, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
11:30	Developing an NHS Childhood Obesity Service Using Qualitative Methods: What Works? Knowsley’s Model of Care for Childhood Healthy Weight/Obesity An Overview of an integrated service model, who and how to deliver services Personalised advice Lisa Newson, Health Improvement Officer, Obesity & Health Trainers, Knowsley PCT/Council
11:50	Coffee and Networking
12:10	Questions and Answers Session
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Improving Lives through Activity and Sport Delivering local physical activity and sports strategies Building physical activity in the development of community plans Increasing the take-up of sport within communities through facilities investment Partnership working Importance of engaging all aspects of education in the challenge of reducing childhood obesity Initiatives and projects launched – successes and lessons learnt Examples of best practice Claire Ramwell , Head of Healthy Living and Sport, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
14:20	How is the Food and Drink Industry Already Responding to the Challenges of the Government's Obesity Strategy and What More Can Be Done? Finding solutions to the complex issues at the heart of the diet and health challenge Reformulation, information, education – empowering consumers to make healthier dietary choices Working with communities to affect change Food labeling Key initiatives and findings to date Melanie Leech, Director General, Food and Drink Federation
14:40	Creating the Environment for Active Travel Provide an environment which favours walking and cycling, together with high-quality public transport Creating activity friendly environments Creating and sustaining neighbourhoods that are integrated into effective networks for walking, cycling and public transport TravelSmart project and initiatives Examples of best practice Peter Lipman, Policy Director, Sustrans
15:00	Body Morph: A Strategy To Tackle Obesity Setting the scene: The unknown health risk category of overweight and obese populations Measurement of success in weight management programmes Bodymorphs focus on quality of body composition and scalability Bodymorphs role as a support service with embedded evaluation Bodymorph's programme content Attention to adherence, quality of feedback and consultation style to offer optimal care plan to the overweight and obese. Dr Clare Hencken, Principal Lecturer, University of Portsmouth
15:20	Coffee and Networking
15:30	Questions and Answers Session
16:15	Chair's Summary and Conclusions

Audience

The audience will be comprised of local authorities, health professionals, strategic health authorities, central government departments & bodies, schools, clinical specialists, primary care workers academia, lifestyle clinicians and professionals, foundation trusts, trade unions, private, legal & voluntary sectors.