Item 7A
LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE.
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE SPECIAL MEETING – YOUNG
PEOPLE, OBESITY AND A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE HELD ON THE 1 JUNE
2004.
Present: Councillors Pennington (Chair), V. Burgoyne, Upton, B Lea, Hudson, M. Lea and
Cullen, Reverend Archer, Russell Bernstein - Assistant Director (Scrutiny Support), Karen
Lucas – Scrutiny Support Officer, Jill Baker – Director of Education and Leisure, Mike Sandys
– Public Health Manager (PCT), Sharon Smith – City Wide Catering Manager, Julia Carter –
Healthy School Team (PCT), Norma Wolstencroft – School Health Advisor, Debbie Pickles –
Community Dietician, Alistair Fisher – Sports Development, Dr David McKelvey, Anthony
Ainsworth – Sports Development, Fiona Stanley – Governor Summerville Primary School, Jo
Bennett – Sports Development, Helen Darlington – Health Improvement Officer (PCT), Eejay
Whitehead – Salford PCT, Jane Whitehead – Community Health Development Worker, Tom
Snape – Community Health Accreditation Program.
Apologies: Lynne Wright, John Stephens, Councillor Fernandez, Dr Bhatt – Bolton, Salford
and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust and David Woodhead – Deputy Director of Public
Health.
1. Introduction
Following the presentation of an interim report at the Lifelong Learning and Leisure Scrutiny
Committee in April 2004 by Scrutiny Support, Members requested a Special Meeting to
consider with partners what initiatives are in place within the City to alleviate the issues
associated with this subject. The report in April 2004 outlined the various Government
initiatives including the statutory standards for school lunches and the national fruit scheme,
aimed at helping young people to consider healthier eating options as well those with a
weight problem.
2. Presentations and Issues Noted.
The following officers provided a presentation at the special meeting, which outlined the key
areas and support their organisation provides to young people in Salford to help alleviate the
issues associated with this subject.
2.1. Mike Sandys – Public Health Manager.
Mike provided copies of the Health Inequalities in Salford – a Local Strategy for Action (May
2004).
The presentation covered the following points:
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The growing obesity problem - that 10% of children are classed as obese.
The related impact on an individual’s health; diabetes, arthritis.
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Partners in Salford; Healthy City Forum, Health & Well Being Group.
Health and improvement Officers and Health & Well Being Manager.
LIFT and SHIFT.
What works – evidence on prevention and treatment.
Key messages; it is a problem, joint working and using the evidence.
Following the presentation the following issues were discussed:
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There will be six Health Improvement Officers throughout Salford who will be
working in partnership with the Neighbourhood Management Team. They will be
based in geographical areas, with more concentration in Central Salford.
The cookery clubs in schools encourage the use of fresh produce rather than
packets etc. Cookery clubs will be taken forward in the strategy.
It is quite rare for a child to die from a related weight problem, as health problems
usually start to be encountered in adult life. However, there can be extreme cases.
The need to educate young mothers is essential, work is being done via Sure Start
and other agencies throughout Salford.
Children are only weighed once at 5 years when they commence school, therefore
there is very little data to evidence young people who are obese. However, before
any work is done to rectify this we need to be sure of what we need data for, where
we would collate it from and what do we do with individuals who are identified as
being over weight?
Consideration is being given to producing BMI figures from children who are
weighed at 5 years.
2.2 Sharon Smith – City Wide Catering Manager.
The presentation covered the following points:
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Introduction to City Wide Services.
Where are we now; involvement in groups and partnership work.
The issues associated with obesity.
City Wide Services commitment; encouraging & supporting healthy eating.
Future plans; healthier menu in September 2004, High School catering etc.
Following the presentation the following issues were discussed:
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City Wide as a commercial organisation within the authority, need to remain
competitive with other similar companies.
Head Teachers are now becoming a lot more pro-active in encouraging pupils to have
a healthier lifestyle and are interested in the various initiatives to aid this process i.e.
salad bar. Due to resource issues for City Wide they have initiated a rolling
programme of introducing healthier options in schools. However, to ensure success
the backing from Head Teachers, Teachers and parents is imperative. City Wide will
be writing to parents to deter them from providing their children with packed lunches
when changes to the school menus are implemented in September 2004.
Uptake of school meals is 75% of young people, City Wide provide 18,000 meals a
day throughout our schools.
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The cost of installing salad bars, and milk bars etc are monitored during the piloting of
the scheme to ensure they are cost effective.
2.3 Julia Carter – Salford and Trafford Healthy School Scheme.
The presentation covered the following topics:
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A resume of the scheme.
Support to schools on the scheme i.e. meetings, term time visits, workshops etc.
10 health related key areas.
Criteria in healthy eating.
Good practice; fruit scheme, water scheme etc
Healthy options at meal times.
After school cookery clubs.
Pupil & parent involvement.
The following points were discussed:
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Head Teachers do undertake an audit of packed lunches from time to time; there
remains some horror stories. Unfortunately we can only encourage parents to provide
healthier options. A copy of the packed lunches leaflet was circulated, which is
distributed free of charge by school nurses.
With regards the difficult task of encouraging secondary school pupils to eat a
healthier diet, some of the schools that have school councils are trying to promote a
balanced diet.
Councillor Cullen highlighted the ‘Get Active Campaign’
It was generally felt that we miss lots of opportunities to develop initiatives related to
obesity, it was agreed that the new Neighbourhood Management Team would be a
way to move initiatives forward. There are several groups in Salford that are very vocal
and have ideas they want to develop but need the support to do so.
2.4 Norma Wolstencroft – School Health Advisor Public Health.
The presentation covered the following points:
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Extent of the obesity problem.
Consequences of obesity.
Support offered by school nursing teams; screening, home visits, drop in sessions.
Preventative work; health promotion, sessions on nutrition.
What is delivered; age specific lessons.
Review of evidence; it is a rising problem, association with lower socio economic
groups.
5 A DAY cookery clubs.
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The following issues were discussed:
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Obesity in girls is greater than in boys, there being two extremes in girls – either
very slim or obese. Care has to be taken on how young people are targeted and
encouraged to eat healthily and take part in activities.
Schools organising cookery clubs are dependant on the facilities in the kitchen and
the need to ensure that when used they are kept clean and in good repair. Work is
being undertaken to re-examine how to encourage schools to hold 5 A DAY
cookery clubs and how to provide a wider community resource.
The role supermarkets need to play was discussed; Norma explained that work is
being done as part of the 5 A DAY mapping exercise.
2.5 Alistair Fisher – Sports Development Salford Community Leisure Ltd.
The presentation covered the following points:
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Physical activity – fostering a healthier lifestyle.
What is physical activity?
Recommended levels of activity in childhood; 60 minutes of light to moderate
activity daily.
Benefits; weight control, improvement in body image, increase in bone density.
National and local strategy; Sport England.
Examples of best practice in Salford; Fitbods, bringing play back in to the play
ground.
Fun City Tots – a new programme devised in Salford to encourage physical
activity.
Salford swim scheme.
Other initiatives.
Future developments; junior referral scheme to engage obese children and their
families in a programme of activity.
The following issues were discussed:
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Girls participation in sports drops off in secondary schools, physical inactivity is now a
substantial problem that needs to be addressed.
Fitbods is seen as a very good model that is creating interest from other authorities.
The lack of funding is a problem.
Due to changes to the curriculum time is now limited for physical activity.
Safety issues in relation to children playing out reflect a social change.
It was felt that the cost of taking a family swimming was too expensive, it was asked
whether the Leisure Trust were able to reduce costs? Various schemes to aid this
were highlighted.
The availability of subsidised golf tuition was highlighted and the lack of take up of the
tuition by schools.
It was generally felt that there are tensions in dealing with obesity with regards an
individual and population approach. The need for organisations in Salford to improve
partnerships was highlighted.
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There are very few people who actually have a glandular or eating problem that results
in being overweight, 2 out of 3 people do not take enough exercise.
3. The Way Forward.
1. It was agreed that rather than various pieces of work being undertaken in relation to
obesity, tobacco control and alcohol, a joint approach would be initiated.
2. Scrutiny Support to prepare a report from today’s meeting and share with individuals in
attendance for comments.
3. Following the above report a sub group be agreed to consider the way forward,
promoting a joint approach by various agencies and organisations.
4. Lifelong Learning and Leisure Scrutiny Committee and Health and Social Care
Scrutiny Committee to work in partnership with regards this topic.
Karen Lucas
Scrutiny Support Officer
June 2004.
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