Citerank: (10) 340964Tackling obesity in the UKWith concern growing that the Foresight analysis—that 50% of the UK population could be obese by 2050, at an annual cost to the nation of around £50 billion per year [2]—substantially underestimates the scale of the unfolding obesity crisis, the College of Contemporary Health is working with the wider policy community to develop a whole systems map of the obesity crisis and the potential responses.7F1CEB7, 348675Adopt a whole systems approach to obesityTackling obesity effectively—accomplishing a population wide-shift—requires a comprehensive and integrated whole systems approach, involving a range of measures focusing on individuals, social and other systems, including at the local and community level, and on the interrelated physical, physiological, social and cognitive factors that determine health outcomes.565CA4D9, 372559Improve collaboration across organisational boundariesEffective collaboration across organisational boundaries is vital to achieving and sustaining constructive progress in the face of complex, systemic problems—and to leveraging the energy, insight and resources distributed across the network of organisations to maximum effect.565CA4D9, 374621Obesity harms children and young people648CC79C, 374634Glasgow Health WalksIn 2011–12 the Glasgow Health Walks project led to a return on investment of £8 for every £1 spent.62C78C9A, 399547Adopt a whole systems approach to obesityTackling obesity effectively—accomplishing a population wide-shift—requires a comprehensive and integrated whole systems approach, involving a range of measures focusing on individuals, social and other systems, including at the local and community level, and on the interrelated physical, physiological, social and cognitive factors that determine health outcomes.565CA4D9, 399563Improve collaboration across organisational boundariesEffective collaboration across organisational boundaries is vital to achieving and sustaining constructive progress in the face of complex, systemic problems—and to leveraging the energy, insight and resources distributed across the network of organisations to maximum effect.565CA4D9, 399603Glasgow Health WalksIn 2011–12 the Glasgow Health Walks project led to a return on investment of £8 for every £1 spent.62C78C9A, 399604Birmingham's Be Active ProgrammeBirmingham's Be Active Programme returned on average £21.3, and up to £23 in benefits for every £1 spent in terms of improved quality of life, reduced NHS use, productivity and other gains to the local authority.62C78C9A, 399996Obesity harms children and young people648CC79C

How Be Active works

> Be Active allows Birmingham residents to use local leisure services for free.

> A total of 29 leisure centres are signed up to the scheme across the city.

> Activities on offer include gyms, swimming, badminton and exercise classes.

> The sessions are only available during certain times, although at some centres they account for 70% of opening hours.

> So far more than 360,000 residents - a third of the population have signed up to Be Active.

> An evaluation has shown that for every £1 invested £23 is recouped through health benefits

The benefit cost ratio indicates that every £1 invested in Be Active generates on average £21.3 in benefits.
The returns vary for the different stakeholders, depending on the amount of costs incurred and benefits received:


> For every £1 spent on Be Active the return for the local NHS is £22.8 in terms of health care related benefits (primary and secondary care). The majority of these benefits relate to health-related quality of life gains. A smaller amount relates to health care cost savings (£2.6) – £0.5 are estimated to be cashable as medication cost savings.

> For every £1 spent on Be Active the return for the Local Authority is £2.3 in terms of improvements in quality of life among its residents.

> Both employers and the Treasury benefit from the scheme, without incurring in any cost, through reduced absenteeism resulting in productivity gains and tax payments.

> The cost per QALY – an indicator used in economic evaluation to assess health interventions – is £1,164.6.

> This estimate is far below £20,000 – the threshold used by NICE to decide whether health interventions represent value for money

Birmingham’s ‘Be Active’ programme returned up to £23 in benefits for every £1 spent in terms of quality of life, reduced NHS use, productivity and other gains to the local authority.