Mayor begins search for Chair to lead Child Obesity Taskforce

• Sadiq Khan is looking for a Chair and up to 12 Board members to lead a new Child Obesity Taskforce
• The new taskforce will launch later this year – with a mission to reduce childhood obesity in the capital and close the health inequality gap that exists across the city

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is today beginning his search for a Chair and Board members to lead the city’s new Child Obesity Taskforce, aiming to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity across the capital.

Nearly 40 per cent of children aged 10 and 11 in London are overweight or obese¹ and adults in London have higher rates of obesity than comparable global cities such as New York, Sydney, Paris and Madrid².

The Mayor aims to significantly reduce this unacceptable level of child obesity in London by 2028. He also aims to tackle the stark differences between different boroughs in the city.

Obesity rates are highest in the most deprived 10 per cent of the population - approximately twice that of the least deprived 10 per cent. The rate of children who are overweight or obese in year six living in Barking and Dagenham is nearly 44 per cent whereas in Richmond it is 25 per cent. Reducing this inequality gap is a key public health priority for the Mayor, and will be a major focus of the new taskforce.

Childhood obesity can lead to the early onset of conditions traditionally associated with old age, such as type 2 diabetes, poor oral health and cardiovascular disease. It is also associated with poor psychological and emotional health, lower educational attainment and poor sleep. Obese children are also likely to experience bullying linked to their weight and are more likely to become obese adults living with the condition and consequences for life and with a higher risk of morbidity, disability and premature death in adulthood.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is the world’s greatest city and I want every young Londoner to be able to fulfil their potential and make the most of the opportunities that the city gives them.

“Tackling the childhood obesity epidemic in the capital is a crucial part of ensuring that all young Londoners are able to flourish and lead happy, healthy lives.

“That’s why I’m setting up a new Child Obesity Taskforce, with the support of partners including Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity. I am looking for the very best individuals from across the city to lead the way, with a proven track record of bringing together those who can help tackle this problem and improve the health and life chances of our young people – regardless of their economic background, their ethnicity or where in the capital they live.”

The Mayor is looking to recruit members who share his passion to improve the health of young Londoners and who will take a leading role in transforming the way in which children and families in the capital approach diet and activity.

London’s new Child Obesity Taskforce is being set up as a city-wide partnership, in collaboration with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, who have backed the project with £90,000 of support over two years.

CEO of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, Kieron Boyle, said: “Rates of childhood obesity are unacceptably high but it is within our collective power to address this. We know that inner-city environments amplify many aspects of the problem and that children from poorer areas are disproportionally affected. This taskforce can play an important role in combining resources, insight and focusing effort where its most needed.”

Statutory Health Advisor to the Mayor and Regional Director for Public Health England, Prof. Yvonne Doyle, said: “Childhood obesity is a major issue for London with more children leaving primary school overweight or obese each year and it is our most deprived areas that are the worst affected. A healthy weight in childhood lays the foundations for decades of healthy life as an adult and the new taskforce will transform our city’s approach to tackling child obesity.”

Details of how to apply to become Chair or a Board member of the new Child Obesity Taskforce are available on the City Hall website. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

The deadline for applications is Monday 26 February 2018, 2359 GMT.

ENDS