The challenge
Tees Valley Combined Authority wanted to determine whether the prevalence of obesity in the Tees Valley is greater than in other areas of the UK, what the causes might be and the impact upon the economy of the region.
Our response
NECS carried out a deep-dive review of a wide range of data sources:
- Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) – NHS Digital
- Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) – NHS Digital
- National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) – NHS Digital
- Estimated prevalence of obesity including overweight – Department of Geography and Environment, University of Southampton and Department of Geography, University of Portsmouth
- Public Health Profiles – Public Health England
- Annual Population Survey – Office for National Statistics
- Access to health assets and hazards index – Consumer Data Research Centre
- Primary and Secondary Care Data – NECS.
The following techniques and tools were used:
- mapping techniques
- software to demonstrate spatial patterns of obesity
- population segmentation analysis applied to Primary Care and Secondary Care data
- statistical neighbour analysis to compare Tees Valley with other similar areas of the UK.
Outcomes
The indicators suggest that the prevalence of obesity in the Tees Valley is higher than national averages. More detailed geographical breakdowns show large variation in obesity prevalence within the Tees Valley at local authority level.
There are significant hotspots of obesity within the Tees Valley and there is a strong correlation between obesity, overall deprivation and unemployment.
This was used across Teesside to develop the local area action plan across system partners in health, local authorities and industry to tackle obesity over the coming five years.