Scottish Government

Healthy Weight Communities

Background

The Scottish Government's Healthy Eating, Active Living action plan set out the intention to establish a handful of Healthy Weight Communities across Scotland. These pathfinder programmes will aim to prevent obesity and associated illnesses, with an emphasis on addressing health inequalities.

The objective of the Healthy Weight Communities will be to demonstrate the ways in which gathering together diverse projects, under the shared purpose of tackling obesity, may have a greater impact on health outcomes than dispersed activity. Local communities, families and young people in particular, will be engaged in programmes that embrace healthy eating, physical activity and healthy weight initiatives from a wide range of delivery partners.

These programmes will take their lead from the valuable lessons from the EPODE programme in France and the evidence presented by the Foresight report ' Tackling Obesities' The French model illustrates just how important popular promotion and championing by local leaders is to the success of community programmes such as these. Meanwhile the Foresight report is clear that isolated action is futile in our battle against the obesity epidemic. Only close partnership working that supports people to make healthy choices right across their daily routine will make a difference.

Application and selection process

The deadline for receipt of applications to participate has now passed and the Scottish Government and COSLA notified the following successful communities in May 2009.

This link will take you to the letter that applicants received inviting them to apply and background to the project objectives supplied.

Links and resources

Take Life On is the Scottish Government's national communications campaign on healthy eating, physical activity and alcohol moderation. In addition to a television, radio and billboard advertising campaign, a website press coverage and partnerships with supermarkets and community pharmacies have helped to promote the central Take Life On message that simple swaps in everyday life can help to reduce the risk of serious illness and make you feel really good about yourself. The Scottish Government is keen to explore how participating Healthy Weight Communities could benefit from local Take Life On collaboration.

EPODE European Network is a project gathering together key experts, political and institutional representatives to facilitate the setting-up and implementation of efficient community-based initiatives using the EPODE methodology in other European countries.

NHS Health Scotland Health Improvement Performance Management Review: NHS Health Scotland is working with the Scottish Government to develop an outcome-focused performance framework for health improvement and reducing health inequalities. As part of this work, tools will be produced to support community planning partners in their delivery of healthy weight outcomes. Healthy Weight Community participants will be actively engaged in this. Please see Health Scotland's website for further information

Smarter Choices Smarter Places: Scotland's sustainable travel demonstration towns

Equally Well Test Sites leading the way in delivering the Health Inequalities Ministerial Task Force's recommendations

Debrief of a study to identify and explore parental, young people's and health professionals' attitudes, awareness and knowledge of child healthy weight has now been published on the Health Scotland website. The report outlines findings from a study to gain further insight and understanding into awareness of, knowledge and attitudes towards child unhealthy weight among key target groups of parents and carers (hereafter referred to as parents but including carers), young people and health professionals.

UK Government

Resources including 'Healthy Weight Healthy Lives: guidance for local areas' may be found here Please be aware that specific policies, guidance, funding and legislation contained in these resources may not apply in Scotland.

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