Blackburn East Child Obesity Report

Healthwatch Blackburn with Darwen undertook engagement with young people after hearing concerns at Blackburn East PCN about the level of childhood obesity in that area. They delivered a series of focus groups with young people across the Blackburn East PCN geography and also delivered two 6-week cooking programmes with families. The cooking programmes provided the opportunity to build relationships and trust with the groups to explore incentives and barriers to maintaining a healthy weight. They engaged with 390 people.

The findings revealed that the local food environment is dominated by takeaways and dessert bars, with very few healthy food outlets. Most corner shops and small supermarkets offer processed food at higher prices, making unhealthy options more accessible and affordable. Marketing and advertising of fast food were identified as strong influences on young people’s choices.

Access to physical activity was limited, with few facilities catering specifically to young people. Sports clubs were often expensive, and screen time emerged as a major barrier to exercise. Girls, in particular, were less engaged in sports outside school.

Young people associated being healthy with exercise, eating well, and good mental health. However, they reported barriers such as lack of motivation, the convenience and low cost of unhealthy food, family habits, screen time, and limited time for physical activity. Many children prepared their own meals, which were often processed, and frequently consumed takeaways.

Adults reported similar challenges, including lack of time, financial constraints, low energy, and mental health issues. They expressed a need for affordable leisure options and better education on cooking healthy meals.

The cooking programmes had a positive impact, increasing confidence and skills in cooking from scratch. Families enjoyed bonding during the sessions, and participants expressed a desire for longer programmes and more opportunities to learn.

The report made several recommendations. These include strengthening family-based healthy living programmes, extending cooking courses, and expanding the PASTA programme for teenagers. It suggested offering weight management programmes in non-clinical settings such as youth centres, and encouraging school nurses to adopt a whole-school approach to health. Other recommendations included stricter regulation of fast-food outlets, reducing unhealthy advertising, subsidising youth leisure activities, and installing outdoor gyms in parks. Schools were advised to improve healthy food options, stop rewarding children with sweets, and increase access to sports facilities.