Eat Well Be Active

A healthier, balanced diet is essential for health and wellbeing; however, the vast majority of the population do not meet the Government’s recommendations for a healthy diet as set out in the Eat Well Guide.

People generally know what constitutes a healthy diet – plenty of fruit and vegetables, a focus on plant-based protein, unrefined carbohydrates and fibre, yet this is not achievable for many, particularly those with a lower income.

More and more people are now experiencing food insecurity. Food insecurity is generally defined as the inability to reliable access enough affordable, nutritious food. It often involves concerns about the quality, variety and availability of food, as well as the ability to afford it. Food insecurity can result from various factors, including income constraints, rising food prices, limited access to healthy food options, and personal circumstances that affect an individual or household’s ability to meet their dietary needs.

However, even those who can afford a healthy, balanced diet are generally not meeting the guidelines. There can be many factors which contribute to this, including cultural and social influences, as well as the environments in which we spend time.

The West Cheshire Food Partnership is a multi-stakeholder group which has been brought together to support all residents in west Cheshire to access a healthy, affordable, sustainable and enjoyable diet.

Physical activity and movement are crucial for children and young people. It promotes healthy growth and development, improves cardiovascular health, strengthens bones and muscles, helps maintain a healthy weight, and boosts overall mental well-being[i]. Regular physical activity also enhances cognitive function, concentration, and academic performance. It teaches important life skills like teamwork, communication, and discipline. In adulthood and later life physical activity continues to support physical and mental health and wellbeing and is particularly important in terms of strength and balance as we enter older age.

On the flip side, inactivity can be harmful to health and wellbeing, shortening the number of years spent in good health. Whilst inactivity is prevalent across all demographics, there are particular cohorts who suffer the greatest inequalities with regards to physical activity, these include:

• Women and girls
• Children and young people
• People with special educational needs, disabilities, and/or long-term health conditions
• Refugees and asylum seekers
• People living in areas of deprivation

[i] OHID Public health profiles – Physical Activity (phe.org.uk).

The causes of overweight and obesity are complex and multi-factorial. We live in an environment which nudges us towards less healthy behaviours. We are surrounded by an abundance of cheap, energy dense food, unhelpful marketing and advertising of less healthy products, and places which favour motorised transport and sedentary lifestyles.

Less healthy food and drink (those which are high in fat, salt, and sugar) is easily accessible and affordable to most. There is an association between exposure to fast food consumption and obesity, and with more fast food in areas of higher deprivation this may increase the links between deprivation, obesity, and poor health.

Most of us spend time in several different environments such as school and nursery, work, home, local neighbourhoods, and places we visit for other reasons, including leisure and social activities. The opportunities to eat well and be active within these environments can differ considerably and can often depend on where you live. As part of this strategy, we want all our environments to support residents to eat well and be active. Whether that be through initiatives within schools, planning decisions to restrict fast food outlets from opening in deprived areas, or supporting the creation of environments which support people to walk and cycle and to be physically active.

Too many children in Cheshire West and Chester are living with overweight or obesity. Whilst the latest data shows a reduction in overweight and obesity of Cheshire West and Chester children of Reception age, the increase in overweight and obesity for Year 6 children is a concern. Further to this, more of our Year 6 children are now classed as living with obesity than overweight, showing a move to increased weight for this age group.

Low income is a key player, with those from deprived households twice as likely to be living with overweight and obesity than their peers from the least deprived households.

Weight is a complex and emotive subject with multiple drivers. The large increase in overweight and obesity from Reception to Year 6 highlights the need to take a whole-system approach to support children to eat well and be active. The fact that almost a quarter of our children start school with excess weight shows a need to work with families and early years settings to embed healthy behaviours during the first years of life.

There is a strong network of partners in Cheshire West and Chester supporting families. Work needs to be done to ensure support is being provided to those who need it most.

Breastfeeding has many known health benefits, improving infant and maternal health and wellbeing in both the short and longer term. Breastfed babies have a reduced risk of sudden unexpected deaths in infancy and breastfeeding protects babies from infection and disease, reducing their risk of respiratory infections, gastroenteritis and ear infections.

Breastfeeding can also be protective against obesity, particularly in those who are genetically predisposed; breastfeeding for 3 months in the first year of a baby’s life reduces the risk of obesity by 13% in later life. Likewise, breastfeeding up to 12 months of age is associated with a decreased risk of tooth decay.

In terms of maternal health benefits of breastfeeding, for those who breastfeed, there is a lowered risk of breast cancer and some protection against ovarian cancer. In addition to this, mothers who breastfeed benefit from a faster return to pre-pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding also has benefits for mother-infant bonding.

Nevertheless, breastfeeding is a complex and multi-faceted issue and the decision whether to breastfeed and for how long is a complex one, with powerful cultural and familial factors involved. In the UK, and in Cheshire West and Chester, many mothers stop breastfeeding before they want to due to the barriers they face.