THURROCK Council is set to take a lead in reducing a rising problem of obesity by encouraging staff to walk a "Daily Mile".

Thurrock's health and wellbeing board met this week to discuss its Healthy Weight Strategy 2024-2030.

Sareena Gill, senior public health programme manager, outlined the strategy to the board.

She said: "We know obesity is incredibly complex. There are over 100 different factors that influence how and why it develops. It's not just about individual choices. It shapes our environment, communities and the systems we live in.

"To respond to this we've identified seven key priorities, areas where we believe targeted efforts will make the biggest difference."

Ms Gill said there would be a focus on enabling communities to foster healthier behaviour and halting rising childhood obesity starting preconception.

Food insecurity will be tackled by improving access to food support schemes and there would be a push to provide residents with access to reliable information, to improve accessibility of green spaces and to get people moving more. In addition there workplace health programmes will be encouraged.

Speaking at the meeting Robert Persey, director of adults and health, said this could begin with Thurrock staff.

He said: "It's a really good strategy so the challenge now is to make sure we implement it. We've been doing some work around the 'Daily Mile' which has been around a long time in primary schools.

"They do promote an employers' pack so we will be looking at starting to introduce the Daily Mile into the workplace here and will be look to try to other employers in the area to engage and try and get more people active by making it part of their daily routine."

The council revealed 64.6 per cent of Thurrock residents and 54 per cent of expectant mothers are overweight or obese. Figures show 21.4 per cent of reception children are overweight along with 37.7 Year 6 pupils.

The strategy will see the council working with communities, schools and health services to tackle the problem.