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Though the proportion of adults who are overweight in the city has remained fairly stable for the last few years, it remains far too high and Wolverhampton's Director of Public Health Ros Jervis has used her 2014 Annual Report as a "call to action" for organisations, businesses and individuals to team up and help tackle the problem.
Obesity is associated with a number of serious medical complications - from diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, respiratory problems and liver disease to stress, anxiety, depression and infertility.
National surveys estimate that some 69.8% of adults in Wolverhampton are overweight or obese, compared to a national average of 64%, and there are concerns that obesity rates may rise still further.
In her report, entitled Weight? We Can't Wait, Mrs Jervis says that organisations like the city council, businesses, charities, health professionals, families and individuals need to work together to help tackle the problem.
She said: "Being overweight or obese has a massive impact on people's lives, not only in terms of their health but also their quality of life, and we are determined to do all we can to reduce the problem here in Wolverhampton.
"Rates of obesity have more than doubled in the last 25 years; modern life creates a sedentary environment where high calorie food is always around, and being overweight has become the norm for many adults and children - indeed, nearly a quarter of our Year 6 pupils are obese, compared to just under a fifth of Year 6 pupils nationally.
"The common view is that if people ate less and did more exercise, it would solve the problem. The reality is that most people would have to override their instincts and habits and those triggers in their day-to-day lives which encourage the consumption of high calorie foods, such as the availability of fast food and buy one, get one free offers on snacks and junk food.
"I'm using my first Annual Report as a call to action to make organisations and communities in Wolverhampton aware of the public health threat that faces us - and to encourage them to take steps to tackle it.
"It will not be a quick fix and there is no silver bullet to reducing obesity - but we know that by getting organisations like the NHS, the city council, schools, businesses and the voluntary sector to work together with communities, individuals and parents and families, we can make a real difference."
The Annual Report includes a number of actions, including encouraging healthy eating and physical activity and promoting healthy lifestyles in schools and workplaces. It also seeks to involve families and communities in the Call to Action, and will work with them to find them best ways to do this.
It highlights key priorities like encouraging parenting skills and breastfeeding, developing additional activity programmes in schools and establishing a multi-agency partnership to tackle the wider social and environmental factors which lead to obesity.
Meanwhile, businesses, organisations and individuals are being urged to pledge their support for the fight against obesity as part of the Director of Public Health's Annual Report while a summit aimed at tackling obesity in Wolverhampton will be held in the autumn.
Councillor Sandra Samuels, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, added: "The council and our health partners already do a great deal of work to address weight issues, running various fitness programmes including the successful Fit for A Fiver scheme and our very popular Food Dudes healthy eating programme in schools.
"But for the sake of both the current and future generations, we must do more, and I'm hopeful that this Call to Action will galvanise businesses and individuals to step up the fight against obesity."
People who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. Excess weight can also affect self-esteem and mental health. Overall health problems associated with being overweight or obese cost the NHS over £5bn each year.
To read the Director of Public Health's Annual Report, please visit Type=articles;Articleid=4934;Title=Weight? We can't wait. A call to action to tackle obesity in Wolverhampton;. For healthy living advice and tips, please visit the NHS's Change4Life website at Type=links;Linkid=3170;Title=NHS Change4Life;Target=_blank;.
- released: Monday 28 July, 2014