Council budget to tackle childhood obesity shrinks despite rising problem
Officers say the budget only amounts to a fraction of the work done to tackle the issue
Nick TyrrellMagistrates court reporter
Annie Gouk
A child on weighing scales. Photo credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire
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Liverpool Council has defended its work to tackle childhood obesity after newly released data appeared to show the lowest spending on the problem in seven years.
The council has budgeted a total of £160,000 to spend on child obesity during the 2020/21 financial year.
The figure is down slightly from the equivalent of £161,000 in 2019/20, with figures adjusted for inflation - and it has dropped by 77% from the equivalent of £564,000 as recently as 2015/16.
In real terms, it is also the lowest amount seen since 2013/14, when local authorities were first given public health responsibilities.
There has also been a drop in spending on promoting physical activity in children, including active travel initiatives, sports-based interventions, and community-based schemes.
Liverpool Council budgeted £56,000 for this purpose in 2020/21 - the same amount as the year before, but down from the equivalent of £58,000 in 2018/19 and £304,000 in 2013/14, adjusting for inflation.
The combined £217,000 budget for the two areas is by far the lowest spending on the problem in Merseyside.
It comes despite rising numbers of children becoming overweight or obese.
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Data from the National Child Measurement Programme revealed that 25.8% of Year 6 pupils in the city were classed as clinically obese in 2019/20.
The proportion is up from 24.6% the year before, and is the highest seen since the programme first began in 2006/07.
A council spokesman said work on childhood obesity took place within other areas of the council and in other organisations across the city.
He said: "This figure represents only a small proportion of the total being spent on reducing childhood obesity in Liverpool.
"There are a raft of other services, activities and organisations involved in tackling the issue, ranging from children's centres to schools and sporting bodies.
"Examples include the Liverpool Active Promise, which aims to make us the most active big city by 2026 – with nine out of ten children being active for at least 30 minutes a day, compared to 70 percent at the moment."
Caroline Cerny, alliance lead at Obesity Health Alliance called on government to increase financial support for councils to help tackle the issue.
Ms Cerny said: "These figures are concerning, but not surprising to see.
"Local authorities have been dealt significant budget cuts in recent years, which are having a knock-on effect on the level of service they are able to provide.
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"The Government has vowed to halve childhood obesity by 2030, but to meet this target we need comprehensive action at national and local levels, with sustainable funding for vital local public health services."
It is looking increasingly unlikely that the Government will meet their target of halving childhood obesity by 2030 - with the proportion also at a record high at a national level.
Since these figures were published, further national measures have been announced to tackle childhood obesity, including a ban on the advertising of food high in fat, sugar or salt on television and online before 9pm.
The new strategy also includes restricting promotions that encourage bulk buying of products that are high in fat, sugar and salt, both online and in store, and introducing calorie labelling of food and drink in large restaurants, cafes and takeaways.
These measures have yet to be put in place.
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