Childhood Obesity

What is childhood obesity?

Obesity is a major public health risk which can cause potential life-threatening problems including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Overweight and obesity are more common in lower socioeconomic and socially disadvantaged groups and can vary between communities.

There are an estimated 3000 children in Newcastle aged 2-10 who are classified as obese with a further 2600 classified as overweight. These estimates are produced by the Department of Health. Measurements show that schools in areas with higher deprivation are more likely to have higher levels of overweight and obese children.

What have we done to reduce the level of childhood obesity and those at risk of obesity?

The rate of childhood obesity is improving because a multi-agency Obesity Action Plan is being delivered and is regularly reviewed.

The City Council has made a range of leisure facilities and activities free at certain times to all children who live in Newcastle through the Fusion card scheme.

A combination of activity and healthy eating sessions, some of which include recruiting and training volunteers from local communities to increase capacity in the community included:

West End Health Resource Centre/Healthworks
Riverside Community Health project
Newcastle Action Parents and Toddlers Initiative (NAPI)
West End Youth Enquiry Service
Lemington Centre
DeafLink Community Food Initiative.

What is Lean East?

Lean East is the first project of its kind to take a whole system, multi-intervention approach to tackling childhood obesity. It targets 10 primary schools in East Newcastle.

What has been done and what difference has been made?

The Obesity strategy and action plan has been reviewed and refreshed in line with evidence, needs and gaps in current service provision
Evaluation by Northumbria University shows the positive impact of Lean East (LEP).
Lean East team have been short listed as a regional finalist for the Integrated Health and Social Care Awards in the ‘Success in Partnership Working’ Category.
24,000 children and young people have accessed free sports and leisure activities through FUSION, an initiative developed in direct response to requests from young people.
97% of Newcastle schools have joined the National Healthy Schools Programme (NHSP) and 80% of schools have gained National Healthy School Status showing they meet national quality criteria in relation to Personal, Social and Health Education (including Sex and Relationship and Drug Education), Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Emotional Health and Well-being (including bullying).
School catering providers offer a well balanced menu choice which exceeds the minimum nutritional standards prescribed by Government. They provide cashless systems within schools to minimise theft of lunch monies, remove the fear of potential bullying and the perceived stigma of free school meals.
92% (90% nationally) of pupils are receiving 2 hours Sport & PE in 2008, with 48% of pupils involved in inter-school competitions (41% nationally). There are 9 schools in Newcastle not yet reaching the national PSA target of 85%.
The Newcastle School Sport Partnership (NSSP) has been awarded the government’s Sport Partnership Mark 2008.
The ‘Wobbly Street’ project is a creative partnership between Newcastle’s City Council’s arts development team, Newcastle Primary Care Trust, the Fusion initiative and Sure Start, working with parents, staff and children at Farne and Cheviot primary schools. The project has been developing five stories that sensitively discuss issues around diet, exercise, weight and the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle. Children have helped develop character and story ideas from drawings and models to fully computer generated 3D animations.
‘Matilda’s lunchbox’ follows on from the successful Wobbly Street project. The interactive fun puppet show about Healthy Eating and Healthy Lifestyles with puppets and songs for Foundation Stage, Key stages 1 & 2 was piloted in 5 Newcastle primary schools throughout March 2009 and launched city wide from May 2009.
The first dedicated kids gym in the city has opened in direct response to young people’s requests.
A new £0.6m residential block has opened at Hawkhirst Centre, Kielder, in partnership between the city council and the Scout Association. The new facility will enable more Newcastle children and young people to benefit from outdoor and adventurous education opportunities at affordable prices.

‘Active Newcastle’ is a four year campaign leading up to the 2012 Olympics and beyond. The website, developed in partnership between Newcastle City Council, Sport England and Newcastle Primary Care Trust, has been launched to encourage people of all ages to be more physically active, with information on different venues and activities.

What is available for children who are very overweight?

Parents of very overweight children are offered a more intensive 12 week programme, dietary input and access to a psychologist.

How are schools contributing to reducing childhood obesity?

99% (93) of schools are engaged in achieving national National Healthy School Status (NHSS). The 4 key areas relating to achieving national healthy school status are:

Personal Social Health Education, including SRE and drugs education
Healthy Eating
Physical Activity
Emotional Health and Wellbeing
Pupils received two hours Sport and PE 2006-7 in KS1 (97%), KS2 (98%), KS3 (90%), KS4 (59%).

What will we do next?

Implement a new Childhood Obesity Strategy.
Improve coverage of National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) to over 90% of year 6 children.
Encourage children and young people to be more active and increase the number of young people accessing free sports and leisure activities through Fusion cards. Offer free swimming to under 18’s, increase numbers on ‘On the Go’ programmes, open a new kids gym, increase the numbers getting 2 hours high quality PE or sports at school.
Encourage healthier eating.
Newcastle United Foundation will run a three year programme of football coaching, fitness and healthy eating sessions, reaching 3000 children. This will be funded by the Premier League PFA Community Fund, Your Homes Newcastle and Newcastle City Council’s Fusion scheme.

Related information

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) - shared online information resource for everyone who commissions, provides or uses health, social and children's services in the city.

Sports partnership

Newcastle healthy schools

Lean East

School health promotion

Family services directory

Outdoor activity centres