Child Healthy Weight Action Plan

Reducing Childhood Obesity in Merton has been a key priority within the Health and Well-being Strategy since 2015. The refreshed Health and Well-being Strategy (2019-2024) maintains this focus and includes childhood obesity as one of 3 priorities within the 'Start Well' children and young people's theme. The previous Merton Child Healthy Weight Action Plan (CHWAP) was developed and implemented from 2016-2018. The plan has had significant successes in progressing work to tackle childhood obesity locally. However, childhood obesity is still high and requires a sustained partnership approach. This Child Healthy Weight Action Plan (2019-2022) has been refreshed through a process of engaging partners to develop a plan for future action through the Child Healthy Weight Steering Group, engagement with wider partners, reviewing the evidence of what works nationally and regionally, and reviewing the successes and challenges of the previous plan. The London Great Weight Debate as well as the Great Weight Debate Merton which focused on engaging with residents in the east of the borough, BAME communities, parents/carers and young people, provided an in-depth insight into views and opinions on childhood obesity, the findings of which have been used to steer the refresh of the Child Healthy Weight Action Plan (CHWAP).

This CHWAP Summary document 2019-2022 provides a review of the successes from the 2016-2018 action plan as well as setting out the key themes and high-level actions which will be taken during the life of the plan.

The Child Healthy Weight Steering Group which includes a range of partners in Merton will lead on ensuring this plan is operationally delivered with appropriate reporting through the Children's Trust Board and Health and Well-being Board.