Together for Health

Child obesity is a major public health concern with the rise in obesity predicted to continue unless major changes in lifestyle and the environment are made.

Body Mass Index (BMI) statistics for 2008/2009 published recently show that 19.8% of P1 children in Scotland were classified as overweight, including 8.0% obese and 3.9% severely obese (ISD Scotland, December 2009).

Overweight children are more at risk of becoming overweight adults and obesity is a major risk factor for other health complications such as:

• type 2 diabetes
• cancers
• cardiovascular risk
• psychosocial impact resulting in low self-esteem and depression

Together for Health aims to reduce the rate of increase of overweight children by working with the community and partners to promote the benefits of regular physical activity and less sedentary behaviours and the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The Armadale and Blackridge ward is one of eight Healthy Weight Communities in Scotland funded for two years by the Scottish Government as pathfinder projects.

NHS Lothian also provides funding for the project to emulate a French model, EPODE, (Together Let's Prevent Childhood Obesity) which saw positive lifestyle changes and childhood obesity in participating towns cut by almost 25%.

The project is taking a unique approach built on four pillars:

1. adopting social marketing techniques
2. building partnerships
3. gaining political support
4. a robust evaluation process

The approach will be encouraging community involvement to inform action and development of the strategy. It aims to change the environment and thereby unhealthy behaviours.

Involvement from local partners with a strong commitment to positive action for the community is crucial to promote the prevention of childhood obesity.

Recent events
The Together for Health project promoted the ?Be Active this Winter? message in the Armadale/Blackridge ward by hosting a Burn?s walk and Ceilidh.
 
The event held on Friday 28th January invited all members of the community to join them in Watson Park for a torchlight procession around the park, led by a Piper. Participants were then invited over to Armadale Community Centre to warm up with some hot broth. The evening?s entertainment continued with Ceilidh music and a local dance group provided a little tuition to get it all going. The traditional Scottish music had both young and old up on their feet dancing the evening away.
 
The project has a number of families who are ?Friends of the Project? and they are kept abreast of project activities and information.

FURTHER INFORMATION 
Please contact Rili Craig, Project Officer on 01506 281105 or email rili.craig@westlothian.gov.uk