Obesity 'epidemic' hits West Sussex

Dr Fahrang Tahzib, West Sussex director of public health and well-being, revealed that a preliminary obesity strategy for the county had been worked out, in which there would be a huge role for local authorities to look at things like cycle routes and leisure centres, and for the NHS to put in preventive measures.

"We have an epidemic on our hands in West Sussex," he told the county health overview and scrutiny committee. Far too many children and adults in the county are obese."

Children's heights and weights were being measured '“ 'to see where we are'. The programme being planned involved working with whole families, in terms of meals and exercise together.

John Wilderspin, chief executive of West Sussex Primary Care Trust, warned that reducing obesity would be a much greater challenge than things like reducing waiting times in hospital accident and emergency.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette May 16