75% of adults in Blackpool are overweight

Around three quarters of adults, a quarter of four to five-year-olds and more than a third of 10 to 11-year-olds in the resort are overweight, according the the latest report to the Blackpool Health and Wellbeing Board, which is due to meet on Wednesday.

In his report to the board, director of public health Dr Arif Rajpura warns the underlying reasons are “extremely complex”.

The figures are similar to those reported at the start of 2016.

Measures already introduced to tackle obesity include introducing healthier snacks into vending machines in all council-owned buildings and encouraging children to walk to school.

The council has also signed up to a healthier weight strategy.

Dr Rajpura adds: “Overweight and obesity remain a very significant health concern for the local population, affecting 25.7 per cent of four to five-year-olds years olds, 38 per cent of 10to 11-year-olds and 74.5 per cent of adults in the town.

“The underlying drivers of overweight and obesity rates are extremely complex and comprise a wide range of interacting factors including individual knowledge and skills, social and cultural norms, and environmental and economic factors.

“Over the past year, significant progress has been made on implementing the healthier weight strategy. In particular the adoption of a local authority declaration on healthier weight has demonstrated Blackpool Council’s commitment to supporting people.”

Health chiefs are also set to implement some of the recommendations within the government’s National Child Obesity Strategy.

This contains 14 areas for action including cutting sugar content by 20 per cent in products which make the biggest contribution to children’s sugar intake, a soft drinks industry levy, helping all children enjoy an hour’s physical activity every day and making school food healthier.