Many of Southampton’s residents are significantly increasing their risk of poorer health and a shorter lifespan due to poor diet and lack of physical activity.
Approximately 11% of children in reception classes (5 year olds) are overweight and 9% obese. This increases to almost 13% overweight by year 6 (10-11 year olds), with 17% being obese. Some of our residents are particularly at risk, for example, fewer individuals in priority areas eat the recommended 5 or more portions of fruit & vegetables daily compared to the rest of the City. Also, those from black and minority ethnic groups are less likely to be achieving 5 a day compared to those from white-British backgrounds.
Fundamentally, obesity is the result of an imbalance between the energy eaten (energy in) and energy spent being active (energy out). However, the reasons for this imbalance are complex and include genetic, social, cultural, psychological, environmental and economic factors which operate at an individual, community and societal level.
Southampton’s Fit 4 Life (tackling obesity) Strategy sets out the vision and a detailed action plan to tackle obesity in Southampton and the multi-agency Fit 4 Life Steering Group regularly monitor progress against these actions. The Fit 4 Life Steering Group has a number of task and finish groups supporting its work.
