This slideshow provides the data for adult obesity, underweight and overweight in Hertfordshire, broken down by District and compared to England and Hertfordshire.

1. Overweight, Underweight
and Obesity in Hertfordshire
Adults
This table provides the latest data for adult obesity
and overweight, for Hertfordshire Districts. The latest data available is 2012 data
Thanks to Jo McKenzie and the Public Health Intelligence Unit for data
February 2014
Jim McManus
Director of Public Health
Jim.mcmanus@hertfordshire.gov.uk

2. Why are we issuing this?
• Previously our adult obesity survey came
from the Health Survey for England
• This data comes from the Active People
Survey
• We explain the benefits of this new data
below
• Original data source
http://www.noo.org.uk/visualisation

3. Background
• The obesity information which follows has been taken
from the Active People Survey 2012.
• Obesity data has previously been obtained from the
Health Survey for England.
• The Active People Survey data is considered to be more
accurate as the sample size is greater (133,618
participants in England) than Health Survey for England
(15,000 participants).
• In addition the data in the Active People Survey has
been adjusted to allow for under reporting of weight and
over reporting of height.

4. Differences between the Health Survey for
England and Active Adults Survey
• In comparison to the Health Survey to England data, obesity levels
for Hertfordshire in the Active Adults Survey are approximately the
same. However the distribution across the districts is different and
the new Active People Survey has a greater range across the
districts than the Health Survey for England.
• Those districts with differences greater than 1% are listed below:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Broxbourne is higher - 28.3% compared to 26.4%
Dacorum is higher - 25.2% compared to 22.5%,
Three Rivers is higher – 24% compared to 18.6%
Watford is higher – 20.9% compared to 17.3%
Hertsmere is lower – 20.2% compare to 22.3%
North Hertfordshire is lower – 19.1% compared to 22.3%
East Hertfordshire is lower – 18.7% compared to 21.4%
St Albans is lower – 15.5% compared to 17.3%

5. Distribution of obesity, overweight, healthy weight
and underweight
• The chart on the next slide shows the distribution of
obesity, overweight, healthy weight and under weight
across Hertfordshire and the districts.
• For the first time it includes underweight adults.
– Watford has 2.6% underweight adults which is
significantly greater than the percentage for
Hertfordshire (0.8%).
• Welwyn Hatfield has the highest percentage of adults
(47%) at a healthy weight and is significantly better than
Hertfordshire (37.5%).
• Broxbourne has the lowest percentage of healthy weight
adults (29.2%) and is significantly worse than
Hertfordshire.

6. Underweight
Healthy
Overweight
Obese
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40.0%
33.6%
39.5%
38.2%
39.6%
47.0%
35.6%
35.5%
35.6%
30%
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29.2%
44.0%
46.7%
40.9%
41.0%
36.9%
31.5%
39.9%
39.2%
37.1%
41.9%
40.3%
40.8%
70%
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50%
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20%
35.0%
21.5%
23.0%
15.5%
18.7%
19.1%
20.2%
20.9%
21.2%
24.0%
25.2%
25.6%
28.3%
80%
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Adult obesity in Hertfordshire 2012
100%
40%
0%
Source: Active People Survey (Sport for England)

7. Adults with Excess Weight
• The next slide shows the percentage of adults
with excess weight (BMI >= 25) and is split into
the categories of overweight and obesity.
– Broxbourne has the highest percentage of excess
weight and is significantly higher than Hertfordshire.
– Welwyn Hatfield is the only district to have a
percentage of excess weight which is significantly
less than Hertfordshire.
– Hertfordshire has significantly less adults with excess
weight than England.

8. % Overweight
% Obese
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20%
Th
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40%
30%
23.0%
50%
31.5%
36.9%
21.2%
20.9%
15.5%
19.1%
40.9%
44.0%
20.2%
25.6%
24.0%
25.2%
18.7%
41.0%
37.1%
39.9%
39.2%
46.7%
28.3%
40.3%
41.9%
21.5%
40.8%
60%
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Overweight and obesity in Hertfordshire adults (16+) 2012
80%
70%
10%
0%
Source: Active People Survey (Sport for England)

9. Obesity in Hertfordshire
• The next slide shows the percentages of obesity (BMI >=
30) in Hertfordshire Adults, each district and England.
– Broxbourne has a significantly higher percentage of obesity than
Hertfordshire while St Albans has significantly less.
– There is no significant difference between Hertfordshire and
England.

10. H
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Obesity in Hertfordshire 2012
(Adults)
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Source: Active People Survey (Sport for England)

11. Is Obesity a Priority for
Hertfordshire?
• Yes, the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for
Hertfordshire set a priority of maintaining a
healthy weight and increasing physical
activity
• The Public Health Strategy adopted this
priority
• Action is already being taken...see next
slide

12. 15 Actions being taken so far
(more will be done)
1. New weight management service
already commissioned and reached 1st
1,000 referrals in three months, more
will be commissioned
2. Obesity pathway in place for tiers 1 -3
obesity care. Revision late 2014
3. New lifestyle partnership launched with
lifestyle offer for Herts residents to be
ready by Easter for phased roll out
4. New online lifestyle service launched
in February
5. Workplace physical activity challenge
funded and running (Herts Sports
Partnership)
6. Workplace Health improvement
programme running (Business in the
Community)
7. 93% of GPs in Herts now doing NHS
HealthChecks
1. Obesity Plan approval by Cabinet
due March 2014
2. New child weight management
service to be commissioned in 2014
3. Broxbourne whole area obesity pilot
underway with Borough and County
Council, schools and NHS
4. Fast food takeaway restrictions
5. Countryside walks scheme
6. Year of Cycling launching May
2014
7. Funding for District Councils to
work on health improvement agreed
and each District working out its
plans
8. Continue child weight measurement
programme