Childhood Obesity

The obesogenic environment refers to the role environmental factors may play in determining both nutrition and physical activity. Environmental factors may determine the availability and consumption of different food stuffs through influencing access to foods. Evidence suggests availability of high quality, reasonably priced healthy food is constrained for those who live in low income neighbourhoods and may be associated with poor diet and obesity. This joint presentation compares the current national and local position of childhood obesity in South Tyneside and highlights recent research to understand the change in Hot Food Takeaways. The findings presented show higher than average local prevalence of adult and child obesity, a 69% increase in Hot Food Takeaways over a five year period and a clustering of these premises particularly in deprived areas. The presentation aims to use local intelligence to stimulate discussion and inform future public health decision making.