Council commits to leading local action to tackle obesity

CRUK Obesity

Rochdale Borough Council unanimously passed a motion on healthy weight, at Wednesday’s full council meeting (11 October) welcoming opportunity to lead local action to prevent obesity and protect the vulnerable.

The meeting heard how fighting childhood obesity and working with schools to improve the health of pupils is a council priority. Poor diet during early life can adversely affect health in later life, with people living in socially deprived areas are more likely to suffer from health problems.

The motion, moved by Councillor Jacqui Beswick and seconded by Councillor Sameena Zaheer, comes as Rochdale Council supports the national commitment to address childhood obesity and sign the ‘Declaration on Healthy Weight.’

Councillor Sheerin said council attempts to block new takeaways often overturned by planning inspectorate has happened in Castleton.

Local Authority Declaration on Healthy Weight is to support local government to exercise their responsibility in developing and implementing policies which promote healthy weight. The Council noted that unhealthy weight is a public health problem, and welcomes the opportunity to lead local action to prevent obesity and the opportunity to protect some of the most vulnerable in society by giving children the best start in life and enabling all children, young people and families to make informed choices.

The declaration requires senior level local authority commitment in order to bring together a corporate vision to promote healthy weight and improve the health and well-being of the local population.