We have responded to the publication by Public Health England (PHE) of its second year report on progress by the food industry to reduce sugar in ‘everyday’ foods.
Using the action mapping tool in phase 2 of the whole-systems approach to obesity, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council found that there were many small-scale interventions addressing obesity locally. However, partnerships tended to involve solely public health or NHS colleagues and there was a lack of connection between the partnerships and the community.
Phase 3 of the whole systems approach to obesity is based around a workshop where stakeholders are invited to develop a local system map of the causes of obesity.
In East Herts, the primary learning was this facilitated stakeholder engagement and increased understanding of the range of different factors that impact obesity locally, and how these factors relate and can be linked together.
Lewisham Council’s obesity strategy focused on increasing access to healthier food and the use of parks and open spaces.
In phases 5 and 6 of a whole systems approach to obesity, the local authority worked to create a dynamic local system where stakeholders were brought together to critically reflect on undertaking a whole systems approach, while considering opportunities to strengthen the process.