COUNCIL chiefs are to re-introduce a weight management service to help tackle obesity in Redcar and Cleveland six years after budget cuts forced the withdrawal of a previous one.

A community-based 12 week programme is being developed to support people to make positive behaviour changes when it comes to food and physical activity and maintain a healthy weight.

The council received £140,531 earlier this year as part of a £30.5m allocation being made available by the Government to all local councils in England to fund such services.

Distribution of the funds was based on population size, the prevalence of obesity and deprivation.

Other Teesside councils also received funding for the same purpose – Hartlepool being given £100,877; Middlesbrough £132,531 and Stockton £194,606.

In Redcar and Cleveland 71.9 per cent of the adult population are classed as either overweight or obese, compared to the England average of 62.3 per cent.

The Northern Echo:

Public health guidelines recommend a stepped approach to obesity-type issues with clinical interventions being considered for those at the upper end of the scale, which in extreme cases can mean bariatric surgery.

A council spokesman said: “Our public health officers do all they can to promote healthy lifestyles and we are pleased that Government money has become available to promote weight loss and provide some support for people who are struggling with their weight.  “A 12-week weight management service is currently being developed in conjunction with a number of providers and it is hoped the first programme will be introduced to support people next month.”

A council report said: “Weight management services are not the answer alone, but are part of a system-wide response to the issue.

“This grant will allow Redcar and Cleveland Council to offer more than a thousand adults access to an effective weight management service.”