Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is the first West Midlands local authority to sign the Local Government Declaration on Healthy Weight, strengthening its commitment to improving residents’ health.<\/p>\n
The Declaration, developed by the Food Active programme within public health charity Health Equalities Group and approved by WCC, commits the council to embedding and extending healthy weight considerations across all policies and services.\u00a0This includes food and drink provision, planning,\u00a0transport\u00a0and the built environment, with the aim of creating environments where the healthy choice is the easy choice for\u00a0all living and working in Warwickshire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For example, in practice, when planning new developments, teams would ensure there are adequate healthy food options available while supporting measures to limit the density of fast-food outlets, particularly in areas where unhealthy weight is more prevalent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Councillor Anne Marie Sonko, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health at Warwickshire County Council, said: \u201cSigning the Healthy Weight Declaration is a significant milestone for Warwickshire and reflects our commitment to taking a preventative,\u00a0whole system\u00a0approach to health. By working together, we can create environments that improve outcomes for both current and future generations.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nData from the National Child Measurement Programme* shows that rates of childhood obesity increase significantly as children get older, rising from one in five children in Reception to one in three by Year 6. Rates are higher in areas of greater deprivation. Among adults, 26.29% of residents are obese and 37.78% are overweight, increasing the risk of developing preventable long term health conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\nBy adopting the Declaration,\u00a0the council\u00a0is strengthening its Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach and reinforcing its commitment to a Whole Systems Approach to Healthy Weight. This recognises that unhealthy weight is influenced by a wide range of factors, including food access, fast food density, physical activity,\u00a0marketing\u00a0and the wider environment, and cannot be addressed by individual behaviour change alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0whole system\u00a0approach is being developed both within the council and collaboratively with partners across the health, voluntary, community and district and borough sectors. Initial action will focus on maternity,\u00a0children\u00a0and young people, while building the foundations for long term, sustainable change across the life course.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The approach is informed by\u00a0a range of\u00a0local insights\u00a0and priorities\u00a0such as\u00a0Warwickshire\u2019s Joint Strategic Needs Assessments<\/a>, the\u00a0Council\u2019s Corporate Delivery Plan<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0Child Friendly Warwickshire strategy<\/a>.\u00a0The Healthy Weight Declaration was\u00a0also signed on the same\u00a0day as the launch of the new Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-2031, reinforcing shared priorities around eating well and moving more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Matthew Philpott,\u00a0Executive\u00a0Director of Health\u00a0Equalities Group (HEG) said:\u00a0\u201cCongratulations to Warwickshire County Council for taking this stand. \u201cWe all know how difficult it is to make the right choices when we are surrounded by unhealthy food, the wrong advertising messages and when sugary drinks are cheaper than water. I am delighted that\u00a0Warwickshire County\u00a0Council is doing everything they can to help their residents, workers and pupils eat healthier. \u201cI hope other councils will follow\u00a0Warwickshire\u2019s\u00a0example\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Warwickshire\u2019s Whole Systems Approach follows national guidance and has been shaped through extensive engagement, including work with communities, young people,\u00a0stakeholders\u00a0and system-wide\u00a0partners. It was formally endorsed by the Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Board\u00a0in January 2025\u00a0and\u00a0is\u00a0supported by a system wide action plan.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Healthy Weight Declaration sets out 16 evidence-based commitments across five key themes, including strategic leadership,\u00a0organisational culture, health promoting\u00a0environments,\u00a0addressing the commercial determinants of\u00a0health\u00a0and using monitoring and evaluation to track progress.\u00a0<\/p>\n