Barking and Dagenham Council awarded more than £460,000 to tackle obesity

The Council have been awarded the funding (credit: Google Maps)

Barking and Dagenham Council has been awarded over £460,000 to tackle obesity.

NHS data shows 24.4 per cent of children in Reception were overweight or obese in the borough between 2019 and 2020.

That is the second-highest rate out of all London boroughs, only behind Southwark with 25.8 per cent.

Barking and Dagenham also had the highest rate of overweight or obese Year 6 students in London during that same period with 44.3 per cent. 

The Council is one of 11 that bid for Government funding to tackle the issue and it has been awarded £465,000.

The money will go towards a number of new initiatives to help families and children achieve a healthy weight and boost their wellbeing.

This includes expanding existing child weight management services.

Funding will also be used to deliver a range of evidence-based HENRY programmes for children and families from pre-birth up to age 12.

The Council is giving community groups and schools additional training and financial support to provide the courses.

The programme is part of a new prevention focused, system-wide approach to healthy weight and obesity across the borough.

Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, Cllr Maureen Worby, said: “Many people have struggled throughout the pandemic and lockdowns to keep the pounds off and maintain a healthy weight.

“It is important that everyone is able to get help and support to achieve a healthy weight if they need it.

“This extra funding will enable us to support the expansion of our existing child weight management services and work with community partners to try some innovative new ways of delivering.”

For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM