Agenda item

The Committee considered the draft final report of the Childhood Obesity Review, including nine draft recommendations for confirmation.  The report had been compiled from the information provided for and considered by the Committee at four previous meetings, and put forward a number of conclusions based on the findings of the Committee.

The report was arranged under the following headings based on the steps taken by the Committee in carrying out the review:

• Does Slough have a problem with childhood obesity?
• What options are there to alter the physical environment?
• What is the role of schools and how can we support them?
• The need to encourage physical activity.
• What role can GPs and other primary care professionals play in tackling childhood obesity?

The Committee expressed its support for the report and the recommendations it contained.  It showed that there was a great deal of good work already being carried out but at the same time identifying areas where through better communication and liaison between the parties further progress could be made.  Given the prevalence of obesity at age 4-5 years and 10-11 years in Slough shown by the National Child Measurement Programme, clear benefits would flow from encouraging more families to practice healthy living through exercise and physical activity together with healthy eating and drinking.  Building on the work in this area taking place in Children’s Centres and schools would be very important.

There were two issues raised which Members considered could be usefully referred to in the recommendations.  Firstly, there was felt to be insufficient choice or opportunity to purchase low cost healthy food or drink items in many local shops.  Secondly there was a concern that there was a possible gender imbalance in the opportunities on offer to young people in the provision of sport and physical activity, a matter which could be investigated.

The Committee noted that the findings of the review, together with all the recommendations, would be referred to the Cabinet for consideration, following which those recommendations relevant to the Slough CCG would be forwarded.

Resolved – That the draft final report of the Childhood Obesity Review be approved and RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet, subject to:

(1)  amendment to draft recommendation (a) to include the words “improve the scope of healthy offers across a range of price levels by local retailers”;

(2)  an additional recommendation to the effect that officers be commissioned to undertake a piece of work reviewing the balance of the leisure offer in the borough to ensure an appropriate mix for both boys and girls; and

(3)  an additional section in the report to acknowledge with thanks the input of all contributors to the Review.