Childhood Obesity in London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Obesity can be defined as ‘abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.’ 1 (World Health Organisation, 2020). Obesity can present many negative effects on the body and increases the risk of ‘a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.’ 2 (World Health Organisation, 2020) Childhood obesity increases the likelihood of severe health risks in adolescence and later life. According to the results of a study conducted by Reilly et Kelly, there is a ‘highly consistent body of evidence, which reported that measured —and conventionally defined—overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence were associated with increased risk of both premature mortality and adult morbidity, particularly cardiometabolic morbidity.’ 3 (Reilly et Kelly, 2010)

In terms of deprivation, Barking and Dagenham had the highest index of multiple deprivation score (IMD) out of all London boroughs in 2019 7. (LBBD, 2019) The index of multiple deprivation takes many factors into consideration to compare and form results, this includes; ‘income deprivation, employment deprivation, health deprivation and disability, education/skills/training deprivation, barriers to housing and services, crime and living environment deprivation.’ 8 (LBBD, 2019) These factors can be compared to the determinants of health – the determinants of health can be defined as ‘the range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status.’ (Healthy People, 2020) 9 4 matters-obesity-and-the-food-environment-

Statistics for obesity and overweightIn 2014-2015, ‘it is estimated that the NHS spent 6.1 billion on overweight and obesity-related ill health’ 4 (PHE, 2020) These costs are projected to incre