Eat Well Be Active

Increasingly, a poor diet and low levels of movement and physical activity are becoming the norm amongst our population. Seen across the lifecourse, this is having a negative impact on our overall health and wellbeing, our life chances, and even how long we are living.

Whilst what we choose to eat and how active is often down to individual choice, we are increasingly aware that the environments in which we spend our time frequently do not support the healthier options. We are also mindful of the challenges some residents face in making the best choice for their health, particularly those living in poverty.

We know that eating a healthier balanced diet and taking part in regular movement and physical activity has many benefits, one of which is reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. The reason we focus on healthy weight is due to the fact that overweight and obesity continues to be the most significant contributing factor to both years spent in poor health and reduced life expectancy (1).

Today, most adults in England – 66.7 percent – are above a healthy weight, and over a quarter are living with obesity (27.5 percent). Combined figures for Cheshire West and Chester show that 65.4 percent of adults (men and women) are above a healthy weight, with the highest rates among the lowest socioeconomic groups (2022/23 data). The number of adults who above a healthy weight has increased in the borough, with an increase from 60.2 percent 2021/22 to 65.4 percent in 2022/23 (2).

In children, the most recent data shows that 21.1 percent of our 4-5 years olds start primary school above a healthy weight. This rises to 34.7 percent by the time they leave in year 6, age 10-11 (3).

Eating a nutritionally balanced diet, being more active, and being able to access support when needed is crucial to good health and wellbeing and for reducing levels of overweight and obesity, ultimately ensuring everyone has the best chance to live a long and healthy life. We know that overweight and obesity tends to continue throughout the life course, so a child living with obesity is likely to grow up to be an adult living with obesity. Also, children are more likely to be above a healthy weight if their mother was living with obesity in early pregnancy. Overweight and obesity can lead to chronic health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers and has been shown to reduce healthy life expectancy (years spent in good health).

To increase the number of Cheshire West and Chester residents at a healthy weight, we need environments which support all residents to eat well and be active. At a minimum this requires access to healthy affordable food and opportunities to be active every day. We need to support residents to manage their own health, to remove barriers and stigma associated with overweight and obesity. To make a difference, we need to work together - healthy weight needs to be everyone’s business.

Eat Well Be Active is Cheshire West and Chester’s partnership approach to supporting residents to access a healthy, affordable and sustainable diet; be active in a way which supports their health and wellbeing; and support them to reach and maintain a healthy weight. In developing the framework, we have considered the barriers and opportunities which exist in terms of access to affordable, healthy food, opportunities to be active, the impact of the environments in which we spend time, and the support that residents can access. The framework takes a holistic approach, considering the wider determinants to unhealthy weight and the opportunities to influence these. Key to the partnership is strong system leadership and a borough-wide ambition to effect change, demonstrated by the Council’s Healthy Weight Declaration, which was signed in November 2019, the borough’s accreditation as a Sustainable Food Place in 2022, and the local implementation of the Cheshire and Merseyside All Together Active Strategy.

A system-wide approach to food, physical activity and healthy weight also links closely with other Council priorities including addressing climate change, improving mental health, and reducing poverty.