Fight is on against obesity

ADULTS and young people in Suffolk are being proactive in the fight against obesity and getting more exercise than the national average, according to a latest report.

ADULTS and young people in Suffolk are being proactive in the fight against obesity and getting more exercise than the national average, according to a latest report.

A survey by Sports England, which interviewed 191,000 people, shows that 21.7 per cent of those aged 16 and over had 30 minutes of physical activity at least three times a week at moderate intensity in 2007/08.

It is higher than the national average of 21.3pc and also greater than Essex, which stands at 21.4pc.

Both counties have seen a significant rise since a similar survey in 2005/06 - with the biggest increase in Babergh, which has experienced the largest rise in the east of England.

Health chiefs in the county believe the cost of treating obesity could rise to as much of £65million a year by 2050 unless efforts are made to improve.

Sally Hogg, head of health improvement partnerships at NHS Suffolk, said: “Encouraging more people to exercise more often is a key element of the Healthy Ambitions Suffolk strategy, which aims to make Suffolk the healthiest county in Britain by 2028.

“Exercise is not only physically beneficial, but can also help improve people's mental health and sense of wellbeing, and as such is vitally important.”