Future Thinking: Obesity

In recent years the Charity has considered funding a number of initiatives that have sought to tackle the issue of obesity in Lambeth and Southwark. Given the high levels of obesity within the two boroughs and widespread concerns about its effects, the Charity funded an initial conference and follow up workshop on the topic.

30 delegates attended the workshop and focused on reviewing and prioritising the issues that were raised at the conference, articulating them as practical suggestions for local improvement work which could be fed back into local obesity networks. The recommendations of the workshop can be found here.

The Charity’s principal aim for the original event was to provide a conference of national quality to local health, education, leisure and social care organisations within the public, private and voluntary sectors. It was hoped that this would create an informed network of people who would be able to work collectively on tackling obesity.

The conference was chaired by Charity Trustees Susan Elizabeth and Linda Smith. Speakers who were asked to give their perspectives on obesity included:

Perspectives
National perspectives
Local perspectives
Potential approaches to tackling obesity
Retailers' perspectives

National perspectives

	Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, President of the UK Faculty of Public Health
	Liam Hughes, National Adviser for Healthy Communities, IDeA Download a copy of the presentation
	Dr Susan Jebb, MRC, Adviser to the Tackling Obesity: Future Choices project Download a copy of the presentation

Local perspectives

	Dr Geraldine O'Dea / Dominique Le Touze, Southwark PCT Public Health Directorate Download a copy of the presentation
	Dr Rajive Mitra, Lambeth GP Download a copy of the presentation
	Mr Abrie Botha, consultant surgeon, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
	Clare Smith, Healthy Schools Adviser, Southwark Download a copy of the presentation

Potential approaches to tackling obesity

Caroline Swain, Media and Communications Manager, MEND programme Download a copy of the presentation

Retailers' perspectives

	Jat Sahota, Head of Corporate Responsibility, J Sainsbury PLC Download a copy of the presentation
	Deborah Hayeems, Government Affairs Director, Tesco PLC
	Claire Hughes, Company Nutritionist, Marks and Spencer PLC Download a copy of the presentation

You can download a list of delegates who attended here »

Following presentations the delegates were asked to discuss amongst themselves what practical measure could be instituted that could contribute to reducing (the rise in) levels of obesity in Lambeth and Southwark. Their feedback is here »

At the end of the conference delegates were also invited to make any other comments on the topic or the event. These comments are available here »