The Bexley Adult Social Care & Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee has outlined its plans for future work, with a significant focus on tackling obesity, a key public health challenge in the borough.
During a meeting on Thursday, 25 June 2026, councillors received updates revealing that one in four adults and one in five reception-aged children are living with obesity. These rates rise to one in three by Year 6. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is notably higher in the most deprived areas of Bexley, with these areas falling within the 20% most deprived in England according to the English Indices of Deprivation (2025).
Obesity is defined using Body Mass Index (BMI) for adults, with a BMI of 30 or greater indicating obesity. For children, age is considered, and the National Childhood Measurement Programme (NCMP) is used to measure height and weight annually for children in Reception (age 4-5) and Year 6 (age 10-11). While BMI is acknowledged as an imperfect measure, particularly for non-white ethnic groups, it remains the best available metric.
Key challenges identified include limited access to supermarkets in some areas and a high density of fast-food restaurants. To address this, the council is working to improve the food environment by recruiting a Healthier Catering Commitment Advisor to encourage food businesses to offer healthier options. A market stall called 'Cheeky Fruits' has been set up in Slade Green to improve access to fresh produce, with local schools provided with vouchers to use at the stall. The council is also developing a Food Profile for Bexley to better understand the local food environment and inform future actions.
Physical activity rates are also low, with a lack of specific tier 2 weight management services for secondary school-aged children. Councillors raised concerns about the low engagement with adult weight management services and the sustainability of weight loss. Low engagement is attributed to individuals needing to recognise their weight status and be ready to commit to lifestyle changes. The length of programs and the requirement for parents and children to attend jointly can also be factors in low engagement for primary school-aged children. For weight loss sustainability, the report highlights that without individual lifestyle change, weight can be regained. Early evidence of sustained outcomes is only tracked at six months.
Despite these challenges, the council is implementing various strategies. The Cook and Eat
programme, also known as the 'Eatwell Bexley Cookery Club', delivered 14 five-week clubs and 5 taster sessions across multiple venues in its first full delivery year (October 2024 - September 2025). It achieved an average 89% completion rate, with participants reporting significant improvements in healthy eating behaviours, such as increased cooking from scratch, doubled fruit and vegetable intake, and halved takeaway and sugary food consumption. The program also fostered community bonding and inclusivity.
The Best Start Family Hubs
are being utilised to train staff to discuss healthy lifestyles and signpost residents to support. Staff are trained to discuss healthy lifestyles, make referrals, and address sensitive topics like weight, oral health, and mental health in a non-judgmental way. A training session at Erith Family Hub equipped 25 staff with these skills, and a training plan is in development for other 'Best Start Family Hubs' staff. This approach aligns with the broader 'Make Every Contact Count' (MECC) program to strengthen consistent health messaging across services.
The crucial link between mental health and obesity was also highlighted, with questions raised about whether the support offered adequately addresses chronic stress.
Looking ahead, the committee discussed and agreed potential items for its work programme for the year. The full details of the meeting can be found in the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.
