Mayor searches for chair to lead Child Obesity Taskforce

Mayor searches for chair to lead Child Obesity Taskforce

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan is looking for a chair and up to 12 board members to lead a new Child Obesity Taskforce.

The new taskforce will launch later this year – with a mission to reduce childhood obesity in the capital and close the health inequality gap that exists across the city

Nearly 40 per cent of children aged 10 and 11 in London are overweight or obese and adults in London have higher rates of obesity than comparable global cities such as New York, Sydney, Paris and Madrid.

The mayor aims to significantly reduce this unacceptable level of child obesity in London by 2028.
He also aims to tackle the stark differences between different boroughs in the city.

Obesity rates are highest in the most deprived 10 per cent of the population - approximately twice that of the least deprived 10 per cent.

The rate of children who are overweight or obese in year six living in Barking and Dagenham is nearly 44 per cent whereas in Richmond it is 25 per cent.

Reducing this inequality gap is a key public health priority for the Mayor, and will be a major focus of the new taskforce.

Sadiq Khan, said: “London is the world’s greatest city and I want every young Londoner to be able to fulfil their potential and make the most of the opportunities that the city gives them.

“Tackling the childhood obesity epidemic in the capital is a crucial part of ensuring that all young Londoners are able to flourish and lead happy, healthy lives.

“That’s why I’m setting up a new Child Obesity Taskforce, with the support of partners including Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity. I am looking for the very best individuals from across the city to lead the way, with a proven track record of bringing together those who can help tackle this problem and improve the health and life chances of our young people – regardless of their economic background, their ethnicity or where in the capital they live.”

London’s new Child Obesity Taskforce is being set up as a city-wide partnership, in collaboration with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, who have backed the project with £90,000 of support over two years.

Details of how to apply to become chair or a board member of the new Child Obesity Taskforce are available on the City Hall website. Applications are welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

The deadline for applications is Monday 26 February 2018, 2359 GMT.

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