Taking a whole systems approach to obesity,
Excess weight is driven by environmental, societal and individual factors.
The scale of the problem and its relationship to a number of diseases is well documented, and it is a leading cause of ill-health.
Local authorities are committed to playing their part in tackling the problem.
A growing body of evidence suggests that a whole systems approach could help tackle complex problems, such as obesity, and an increasing number of local areas across the world are testing and embedding a systems way of working.
A local whole systems approach to obesity is a ‘Health in All Policies’ approach, which draws on local authorities’ strengths, supports their priorities, and recognises that they can create their local approaches more effectively by engaging with their community and local assets.
Most local areas interested in setting up a localised whole systems approach will already have strategies and programmes of work in place to tackle obesity.
A whole systems approach can add value to this by providing the opportunity to engage stakeholders across the wider system, to develop a shared vision and actions that tackle the upstream drivers of obesity outside the realms of public health.
The approach should be agreed collectively by local stakeholders to reflect the local context.
In addition to benefiting people’s health, delivering a more health-promoting and vibrant environment can contribute to issues like reducing air pollution and litter, as well as supporting local businesses and workforces.
Maintaining a healthier workforce could also have positive impacts on other long term local agendas, such as employability and productivity of local populations, as well as the demand for social care.
Understanding these benefits enables engagement with different stakeholders in the whole systems approach.
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