Councillors throwing their weight behind local anti-obesity strategies should lead by example.

That is just one of the recommendations in a new report on tackling obesity, commissioned by the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (www.idea.gov.uk).

The report, which predicts that half of the adult population could be obese by 2050, aims to support local government in developing ways of combating the influences that promote obesity - known as the “obesogenic environment”.

It identifies the four key areas of influence including planning, children's services, adult social care and parks and leisure with examples from across Europe of how to encourage a more healthy and active community.

Assessors wreathed in secrecy

Research assessment exercises are now so secretive that academics are using the Freedom of Information Act to view assessors' reports

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Problem areas are outlined along with practical steps that councils can take from encouraging cycling and walking, to stay-on-site policies at schools to stop kids snacking on fast foods.

Top ten tips for local action include “practising what you preach” and identifying “obesity champions”. No, that's not successfully overweight people, but a local mayor or lead councillor with a passion to tackle the burgeoning obesity problem.

You might be surprised to hear that the key to fighting fat could be as simple as increasing the number of GPs.

A team at the National Primary Care Research and Development Centre found there was a reduction in BMI as the supply of GPs increased, Pulse (April 30) reports.

Perhaps it has something to do with GPs being more attracted to leafy suburbs with low levels of obesity.

Healthy plants

Money doesn't grow on trees, but it goes on plants in Whitehall. A written question in the House of Commons from Mark Hoban, Conservative MP for Fareham in Hampshire, revealed the Department of Health spent £72,500 in the past five years on herbaceous decorations, Nursing Times (April 29) reports. That's enough to pay for 3.7 new nursing posts for an entire year. So while the NHS has struggled with its deficits, it's nice to know that everything's been looking rosy in Richmond House.

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