Data shows two thirds of adults in Northumberland are overweight

The figure was revealed at Thursday’s meeting of the county’s Health and Wellbeing Board. Factors such as low income and social deprivation were said to be key drivers of obesity in the county.

While the majority of children and young people in the county are at a healthy weight, children from deprived backgrounds were twice as likely to be overweight than those who were less deprived. Across the county, 26.8% of the most deprived children in Year 6 were classed as obese, compared to just 15% of the least deprived.

Last year, the council and Northumbria Healthcare NHS trust launched the Healthy Weight Alliance in a bid to significantly cut obesity in the county over the following decade. Senior public health manager David Turnbull explained the importance of tackling the problem.

He said: “There are many benefits to maintaining a healthy weight – a longer, healthier life and a reduction in the risk of many health conditions. There are also positive impacts on physical and mental health.

“Low income and social deprecation are significant factors. There is a strong relationship between deprivation and obesity.

“Children in the most deprived households are almost twice as likely to be overweight. That simply is not fair.”

Mr Turnbull also explained some of the actions that were being undertaken. This included better, more consistent messaging and restricting the number of new takeaways through planning.

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He continued: “It is important to take action across the system. We need a whole-systems approach.

“Transport and planning are very important to improve opportunities for residents to be physically active and ensuring local residents have access to good quality food.

“There is not a short-term fix. We have known about the impact of being a healthy weight for over 40 years now.”