 The council is taking steps to encourage a healthier lifestyle |
Health workers in Medway, Kent, have been discussing new measures to tackle the area's growing problem of obesity. According to official statistics, half the population in the Medway towns is overweight, with 13% of five-year-olds classed as obese.
The pressures of modern day life and the level of deprivation are being blamed for the area's weight problem.
Medway Council has now been told by the government to introduce an obesity strategy to encourage healthy living.
Fresh vegetables
Suggestions include working with commercial companies such as Weight Watchers, to encourage people to exercise more and eat better.
Another is to make leisure centres more accessible to low income families in the area, which covers Gillingham, Rochester, Chatham, Rainham and Strood.
Anita Sims, of Medway Primary Care Trust, said: "If we carry on as we are, we are on target in Medway and everywhere else to have an unhealthy population."
Medway Council has already started approaching the obesity issue in schools, increasing the amount spent on each child's lunch in primary schools from 47p a day to 55p, to provide more fresh vegetables and better cuts of meat.
Further moves to reduce obesity levels are to be considered by councillors next Tuesday.
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