Current workstreams
1. Building capacity within the VCFSE sector to address healthier weight at local level
In response to the findings from the scoping phase in Year 1, we will co-design a capacity building programme with VCFSE organisations across C&M. The programme will stimulate leadership from the 9 local VCS umbrella organisations on addressing obesity, with a view to cascading materials and training down to smaller third sector partners and community hubs at local level.
The work package is building capacity across the sector through development of the Why Weight Hub and delivery of our Why Weight to Talk training programme that will give community organisations the knowledge and skills to co-design interventions promoting healthier weight that are appropriate for local needs e.g. healthier cooking sessions held at community food pantries. The programme will also consider the challenges of food insecurity for low-income populations, the cost of living crisis, better access to fresh and healthier foods.
2. Using planning levers to develop environments that support healthier weight
Councils have an opportunity to use their role as local planning authorities to the full, drawing on the legislative and regulatory provisions of the planning system and its specific applicability to key issues affecting prevalence of overweight and obesity such as the food environment. This is recognised in national policies including the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the National Design Guide 2021.
There are also significant opportunities to use planning levers to promote levels of everyday physical activity through active travel planning and infrastructure, plus greater access to green space.
Aims & objectives of the workstream:
To facilitate collaboration between public health and planning officers within local and combined authorities in developing a shared vision for spatial planning across the sub-region.
To develop tools, guidance and briefing notes to assist planners in developing policies supporting healthier weight environments within Local Plans.
To facilitate workshops and meetings to brief planners and public health officers on emerging opportunities presented by National Planning Policy Framework.
Key outputs for 2024-25:
Development of food policy and planning toolkit & checklist (May-Dec 24)
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Workshop & Briefings (January-March 2025)
3. Housing, food insecurity and obesity
Insight work in Year 1 of this project illustrated that housing providers can play a central role in tackling food insecurity and promoting healthier diets among their residents. We are therefore developing a new workstream for the Project that is aiming to facilitate and galvanise work across the housing sector to promote access to, and consumption of, affordable and healthier food.
Social housing organisations can play an important role in supporting the well-being of their residents, including addressing food insecurity and promoting healthier diets. At this early stage in development of the workstream we are working with social housing providers to gain a ‘snapshot’ current activity being undertaken by social housing organisations that are addressing food insecurity and healthier weight, with an initial findings report to be published in Summer 2024, and a workshop set to run in late Autumn bringing together housing associations, public health officers and representatives from social supermarkets and associated stakeholders.
4. Reducing incidence of weight stigma in healthcare settings through development & delivery of training programme
Data from the scoping phase in Year 1, in particular from the focus groups and public survey, highlighted the importance of talking about overweight and obesity in a non-stigmatising way. This is an approach that is increasingly being called for within the NHS settings, with a recent report from the APPG for Obesity recommending training for all healthcare professionals to ensure appropriate and correct usage of language regarding obesity and broadening understanding of the causes of obesity.
This work package will build on initial scoping research undertaken by HEG and will bring together a working group, including patients with lived experience, service leads, and clinicians, to develop and pilot a training programme for healthcare professionals in clinical settings to address the following factors:
Raise awareness of the complex range of factors that influence overweight and obesity
Consider the impact of weight stigma on individuals (patients, family members) living with overweight and obesity
Understand the impact of weight stigma, bias, and prejudice, and explore how to create supportive healthy weight environments within NHS settings
Give advice on how to have positive conversations about healthier weight and suggest where to refer and signpost
Piloting of training package with minimum of six NHS organisations (primary and secondary care) across 2024-25.
5. Connectivity and Communications (ongoing work package)
Key actions will include:
Development of briefing documents and online events for specific sectors (social housing, business community, emergency services).
Influence key stakeholders across the Cheshire and Merseyside system to raise the profile of overweight and obesity as a key agenda item, and scale-up activity from across the system to address the wider determinants of overweight & obesity.