Plans underway to tackle Cambridgeshire's rising obesity problems
Is this problem getting out of control?
Plans have been announced to tackle Cambridgeshire's mounting obesity problems.
Around 64 per cent of adults in the county are overweight or obese along with 27 per cent of kids aged between 10 and 11.
Now local residents have been urged to share their views on creating a healthy weight strategy aimed at tackling the issue.
The costs of obesity include £5.1 billion to the NHS while social care and days of sickness amount to £27 billion.
Communities and local organisations are being asked their views on a strategy to reduce unhealthy weight locally.
It calls for action to support children and adults achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Overweight or obese children are more at risk of physical and mental ill health than their healthy weight peers.
Excess weight in childhood often continues into adulthood and puts people at risk of serious diseases including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. It also reduces how long you are expected to live by three and 10 years.
Val Thomas, Consultant in Public Health at Cambridgeshire County Council said:"The reasons for people having an unhealthy weight are very complex. We will not succeed in increasing the number of people who have a healthy weight and decreasing the risks to their health unless individuals, communities and organisations work together.
"It is important that people locally have their say, share their understanding of the issue and ideas about how we tackle this growing problem.
The Cambridgeshire Healthy Weight Strategy has been developed by Cambridgeshire County Council working with a range of partners.
Individuals and organisations can contribute to the Strategy during a consultation starting 15th August 2016. People can give their views via an online survey: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/HealthyWeight/