Wigan spends more on tackling childhood obesity than national average

Wigan Council spends more than the national average on tackling childhood obesity, data has revealed.

Statistics collected by the National Audit Office showed that the town hall spent 2.4 per cent of its public health budget on support for overweight and obese youngsters in the 2018/19 financial year.

This equates to £665,000 out of a total health budget of nearly £27.5m.

Despite the comparatively low spend, the council still spent more helping overweight children than the average across the North West, which was approximately 1.7 per cent of total public health spending. The national average spend was slightly higher, at 1.8 per cent.

Across Greater Manchester, Bolton spent 4.6 per cent of the public health cash was spent on childhood obesity plans, which was around £893,000. The lowest amount spent in the city-region was in Trafford, where just £9,000 of its £13m health budget was spent on similar initiatives - just 0.1 per cent overall.

The town hall said it was committed to ensuring Wiganers or all ages lead healthy and active lives.

NHS figures released in November 2020 showed that one in four Wigan youngsters are obese by the time they leave primary school. And the NAO’s data shows that 23.5 per cent of Wigan’ 10 to 11-year-olds are obese, as are 10.7 per cent of four to five-year-olds.

Prof Kate Ardern, director of public health at Wigan Council said: “Our priority is looking at how we can work with communities, schools and health partners to provide opportunities to people and invest in local services which make it accessible for people to live healthy lifestyles.

“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, we were working with our leisure partners to roll out The Daily Mile and as a result, more than 14,000 children in 60 primary schools and 19 early years settings participated.

“Our scheme to tackle childhood obesity, Let’s Get Movin’, was also highlighted by the Local Government Association as an innovative project which encouraged the whole family to exercise and eat healthily.

“In line with government guidance, we’re still ensuring our children can keep fit by encouraging them to use our outdoor infrastructure, such as the new cycling and walking routes we’re delivering borough-wide as part of the Bee Network.

“Our annual Fit and Fed provision has also been adapted so that it can continue to run and support our most vulnerable young people.

“We recognise how important it is to instill healthy habits in young people and that by doing so will help them to go on and continue to lead healthy lifestyles into adult life.

“We understand that there is always room for improvement but as part of The Deal for Health and Wellness, we are committed to ensuring residents of all ages lead active and healthy lives in a way that is suited to them.”

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