Chief’s battle of the bulge pledge

Alan Higgins

Oldham’s top public health professional has put his name to a pledge to reduce obesity in the region.

Alan Higgins, the director of public health for NHS Oldham, signed up to Change4Life, aimed at helping mums, dads and families eat well, exercise more and live longer.

Recent figures show that around one in four adults and one in six children in the North-West are now obese, so are one in 10 four to five-year-olds, and one in six 10 to 11-year-olds.

NHS North West, the region’s strategic health authority, hosted the regional launch of Change4Life earlier this month.

Change4Life aims to provide clear advice and support through community resources, guidance from local health professionals, web tools, television programming, food and recipe suggestions from local supermarkets and suggestions on creative ways to travel to and from work or school.”