OBESITY IS A GROWING WEST SUSSEX HEALTH THREAT

A blitz on diet has been urged as a result of soaring levels of obesity amongst West Sussex adults and children.

Figures showing the scale of the problem locally were highlighted at the meeting.

In the United States, the problem had grown devastatingly, and the same pattern was being seen in the UK.

Cllr Walsh said he had chaired an obesity task force on children in West Sussex nearly three years ago.

"Quite a lot of its recommendations have not been fully actioned," he added.

"They need to be actioned with urgency, if we are not to miss another generation which gets into this situation."

Part of the strategy was on sport and exercise in schools. And a real blitz was needed on diet.

Dr Fahrang Tahzib, director of public health and well-being for West Sussex, said issues around the lifestyle of young people in West Sussex were highlighted in a survey.

Nine per cent of five-year-olds and almost 15 per cent of 11 year olds in the county were shown to be obese.

For full story see West Sussex Gazette October 24