Blackpool Council has become the first authority in the country to sign up to a charter committing the organisation to promoting healthy weight in the town.



Councillors voted in favour of a Local Authority Declaration on Healthy Weight at the Full Council meeting earlier in the year.
The Council’s declaration leads the way amongst other local authorities in the UK by it becoming the first to join up with the Food Active partnership - a collaborative programme made up of Public Health Directors across the North West to tackle obesity.
Blackpool Council’s cabinet member Amy Cross, along with Public Health Director Dr Arif Rajpura, met with representatives from Food Active to put the Council’s commitment down in writing by signing a giant pledge form.
Cllr Amy Cross, Cabinet Member for Reducing Health Inequalities, said: “Obesity is a problem for all sections of society and this is no different in Blackpool.
“The connection between obesity and life-threatening illnesses like heart disease, type two diabetes and cancer is now apparent according to research and we are committed to working hard to make Blackpool residents healthier.
“I’m really pleased that this council is working with the Food Active partnership to lead the way on tackling obesity and making Blackpool healthier.
“Our work to promote healthy eating is already taking place, with our Gulp campaign encouraging school pupils to swap sugary pop drinks for healthier alternatives. At the same time, giving primary school children a healthy breakfast every morning means we know that they are being given the right foods regularly.
“Our commitment to reducing obesity has been well stated, however more can still be done.
“As well as our own work, we will continue to lobby the Government to do more to reduce the lure of food and drinks laden with sugar, and to crack down on some of the inappropriate marketing of unhealthy foods that we see everywhere we turn.”
The declaration includes the council agreeing to support three key themes, namely:
Supporting the Government to introduce a sugary drinks duty
Stronger national regulatory controls on junk food marketing
Improved spatial planning measures
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Robin Ireland, Director of Food Active, said: “Congratulations to Blackpool Council for taking this stand.
“We all know how difficult it is to maintain a healthy weight and I am delighted to see Blackpool Council is doing everything they can to help their residents eat healthier and take more exercise.
“I hope other councils in the North West and across the country will now follow Blackpool’s example”.
For more details on the Food Active partnership, visit: http://www.foodactive.org.uk/