Who should take action?

• Local Healthwatch
• Local authority community involvement teams
• Directors of public health and public health teams
• Local voluntary and community organisations, champions and networks

Actions

• Local Healthwatch, community involvement and public health teams should engage local people to help identify their priorities in relation to weight issues. For example, residents may feel that issues such as crime, the siting of hot food takeaways or alcohol outlets, the lack of well-maintained green space, pavement parking, speeding, or the lack of a sense of community are their top priorities. Where possible, it should be made explicit that local concerns often can (and do) impact on levels of obesity in the community.

• Community involvement and public health teams should work with local people, groups and organisations to decide what action to take on obesity. They should recognise local concerns both in terms of the focus of programmes or services and how they might be delivered. This includes involving local groups, networks or social enterprises in any discussions about service redesign and ensuring that they receive feedback about decisions taken.