Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Event to explore whole systems approach to obesity programme
Leeds Beckett has been commissioned by Public Health England, the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Public Health to lead a programme in collaboration with colleagues in local government, to identify ways in which local authorities can create a whole systems approach in tackling obesity.
The event will be of interest to all those engaged in tackling obesity, promoting healthier lifestyles and creating healthier environments and will take place on Thursday 26 November at the Rose Bowl Lecture Theatre A from 1.15pm – 4pm. There will be an opportunity to find out about the programme from the team at Leeds Beckett and the Programme Lead from Public Health England. Discussion will include how the team will be working with local authorities to understand their perspectives and identifying what actions are needed over the short, medium and long term; as well as what benefits such an approach can bring.
The Leeds Beckett team will also be generating and sharing learning nationally and internationally. Professor Steven Allender, Co-Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and Professor of Population Health at the Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre, is set to speak about his experiences of working with local authorities to create whole systems approaches in Australia and other countries.
Other speakers include Leeds Beckett’s Professor Pinki Sahota and Professor Paul Gately as well as Jamie Blackshaw, who leads Public Health England’s Obesity and Healthy Weight team, Rob Copeland, Professor of Physical Activity and Health at Sheffield Hallam University and Carol Weir, Clinical & Operations Director for MoreLife.
The three-year Whole Systems Obesity programme, funded by Public Health England, is aiming to enable local authorities to make a major step change in their ability to tackle obesity through a more coordinated approach. Previous research has suggested that only by taking a whole systems approach – linking a whole range of sectors and influences including planning, housing, transport, children’s and adult’s services, business and health - can local authorities make significant inroads into tackling obesity and improve quality of life, save money and create sustained prosperity for local areas.
Leeds Beckett’s team will work closely alongside a number of local authorities to understand their perspectives and the realities for local government, to capture best practice, and work collaboratively to overcome challenges. As part of these pilot projects, the teams will co-produce new and innovative approaches that reflect what really matters to local authorities in using the latest thinking and making it work in practice for local people. Key elements of the programme include carrying out a review of the research evidence and experience from across the world and gathering case studies of good practice. The Leeds Beckett team and the local authorities involved in the pilot projects will then create a process and develop a roadmap and practical strategies for other local authorities to apply in practice in order to address the current high levels of obesity.
For more information about the event, please visit our events pages.