NEWS--You ate all the pies

[Guest guest]

You ate all the pies

CALDERDALE is losing the battle against obesity, according to a

shock report.

Nearly a quarter of us are so fat we are clinically obese and

Calderdale residents are the worst in West Yorkshire when it comes

to getting off our backsides.

Nearly half of us can't even manage 30 minutes' exercise a week,

according to the report, which Calderdale councillors will discuss

next week.

Figures from Calderdale Primary Care Trust show that 22 per cent of

the adult population have binged on pastry, sugary food and junk

meals until they are clinically obese, which means they have a body

mass index above 30. The norm is 20-25.

Now a report will go before the health and social-care scrutiny

panel stating that " one of the most significant areas in which

Calderdale fails to meet national average and West Yorkshire

benchmarks is that of obesity " .

The panel will meet next Wednesday to discuss these shortcomings and

decide on action.

One of its aims will be to reduce the gap between the most deprived

areas – mainly in the Ovenden, Town, Park and Mixenden and

Illingworth wards – and the authority average by 10 per cent by 2010.

In the Yorkshire and Humber region, Calder-dale was found to have

one of lowest numbers of active adults in the county and one of the

highest numbers of " inactive " adults.

Only 21 per cent of adults in Calderdale do at least 30 minutes'

exercise five days a week, compared with a regional average of 24

per cent.

And 45 per cent do fewer than 30 minutes of exercise a week, three

per cent more than the regional average. Calder-dale also came

second from bottom in the Yorkshire and Humber region for sporting

activity, with only 33 per cent of adults taking part in " moderate

intensity " sport three times a week. The regional average is 37 per

cent.

Adults in Calderdale are not eating enough fruit and vegetables,

with only 20 per cent consuming the recommended five portions a day.

The national average is 24 per cent. Butcher, assistant

director of public health at Calderdale Primary Care Trust,

said: " Levels of obesity in Calderdale are the same as the average

for England as a whole.

" However, nationally obesity is an increasing problem and

significantly increases the likelihood of developing other health

problems such as heart disease, arthritis or cancer.

" A lot of the work we are doing to tackle heart disease and diabetes

can also help to reduce levels of obesity.

" It is all about living a more healthy lifestyle, eating more fruit

and vegetables, reducing the amount of fat, salt and sugar we eat

and increasing physical activity to around 30 minutes, five times a

week. We are working hard with our partners to reduce obesity

locally but there is always more we can do and this will be

discussed at the scrutiny meeting. "

Mr Butcher said the trust had helped promote healthy lifestyles in

Calderdale like Food In Schools – a strategy to provide better

balanced and more interesting food for children.

The trust has also been involved in Active Calderdale, promoting

walking and other outdoor activities. He said they also worked with

the Surestart programme in the district to provide advice,

information and skills to parents and carers about improving

children's daily diets.

31 December 2005