£30m share to create "healthy towns"
Nine towns in England have been given a £30million pot of funding to tackle rising obesity. Being obese means being overweight, and latest figures show that nearly one quarter of adults, and a fifth of children, are obese.
The towns of Calderdale, Dudley, Manchester, Middlesborough, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Tewkesbury, Thetford and Tower Hamlets in London will all share a portion of the government funding. Each town will also match the funding they receive and they have come up with new ways to get residents healthy and active. There are plans for urban farms, green spaces and award schemes for cafes, fast-food chains and restaurants that serve healthy food.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said: "Obesity is the biggest health challenge we face - every year 9,000 people die prematurely and a third of 11 and 12 year olds are overweight".
He added: Healthy towns is just the start. Our aim is to create a healthy England."
This new move follows the government's obesity strategy, which aims to lower rising rates. Tam Fry from the National Obesity Forum descibed the idea as "very sensible".
However he also went on to say "in many ways this is too little, too late. The government should have acted years ago".
The healthy towns funding is part of the government campaign Change4Life, which wants families to eat well, move more and to live longer.
Learn more about the Change4Life campaign
Go to the Discussions page to have your say about obesity and tell us what can be done to tackle the issue in your local area.
Published 12.11.08
Source: BBC News, Department of Health