Merton has seen a significant rise in the number of adults classified as overweight and obese, according to a report presented at the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 11 November 2025. The council is focusing on equity in services and support for those at higher risk of poor health.
The report, part of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy Priority 2, revealed that the percentage of overweight and obese adults in Merton increased from 50.4% in 2020/21 to 61.2% in 2022/23. This translates to over 102,000 adult residents not within a healthy weight range. While the specific factors contributing to this increase are not detailed in the Public Health Risk Factors report, the council is taking steps to address the issue.
The Health and Wellbeing Board convened to discuss strategies for addressing behavioural risk factors, including poor diet and physical inactivity, as part of its broader Focus on Prevention priority. The board is also developing a new inclusive healthy weight action plan called the Eat Well and Be Active Plan, which emphasizes nutritious eating and regular physical activity for all age groups. This plan will continue to take a whole systems approach, emphasizing the role of the physical, social, and economic environment, as opposed to focusing solely on individual behaviours.
The report pack noted that Merton has an overall smoking prevalence rate of 12.4% amongst adults aged 18+, which is lower than the rates for London (14.97%) and England (13.58%).
To combat these trends, the council is focusing on three key themes: offering choice, listening to residents' voices, and working in partnership.
Offering Choice
The council is committed to providing a range of options for residents to make healthier choices. This includes:
- Stop Smoking Services: Merton has transformed its stop smoking services, offering a broader range of evidence-based support options. The Smoke Free Merton digital hub provides clear pathways to support, self-referral options, tailored advice, and 24/7 access to digital tools.
Healthy Weight Management: The council is taking a whole systems approach to address the underlying causes of unhealthy behaviours. This includes the Family Start programme, CAMHS support, and the Everyone Health service.
The Family Start programme, delivered through the CLCH 0 to 19 services, provides targeted support to children and their families when a child is identified as obese through the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The programme offers early intervention and guidance to help families make positive changes around nutrition, physical activity, and overall wellbeing.
The Everyone Health service was redesigned and recommissioned during 2024/25 as an Integrated Healthy Lifestyle service, reflecting a commitment to preventative health and community-based support. This ensures services are responsive, inclusive, and impactful while empowering residents to make sustainable lifestyle changes through person-centred interventions that allow them to retain choice for their behaviour change, and promoting long-term wellbeing by addressing physical activity, nutrition and behaviour change.
Physical Activity: Merton aims to be London's first Borough of Sport, with initiatives like free swimming for children, free sports equipment in parks, and the Merton Moves scheme for older people.
Listening to Residents' Voices
The council is actively seeking input from residents to shape services that meet their needs. This includes:
- World Café Events: Westco Communications conducted two World Café events to explore community needs and preferences around stop smoking support.
- Community Engagement: The South West London Integrated Care Board launched a small grants programme to support local community groups in delivering engagement events under the theme 'Insights Framework Healthy Weight – Community Conversations'.
Working in Partnership
Collaboration is key to addressing complex health challenges. The council is working with a range of partners to deliver preventative interventions, including:
- Community Grants: The council is providing grants to local organisations to raise awareness of smoking, alcohol, and Chronic Kidney Disease.
- Smoking CLeaR Assessment: Merton is partnering with stop smoking leads across all 6 SWL boroughs to deliver a self-assessment and run peer-review workshops.
- Moving Social Work: The council is participating in an education programme to encourage social workers to speak about physical activity to those receiving care.
The Health and Wellbeing Board urges all partners to continue working together to align services, create efficiencies, and support residents in making healthier choices. The board also recognises the importance of addressing the wider determinants of health, such as housing, income, and access to facilities. NHS Health Checks in Merton were re-commissioned during 2024/25 under a proportionate universalism approach with the following priority groups: People of South Asian heritage, Males, People with a family history of clinically proven cardiovascular disease, People with a history of smoking and People residing in areas of higher deprivation by postcode.
