12:00pm Wednesday 1st July 2009
By Michelle Archard
ADULTS in Rochford are less active than the rest of the country, according to the latest figures.
The adults’ health and lifestyle category measures whether over-16s take part in sport and are active on average five or more times per week.
Only 7.6 per cent of adults meet this, making it worse than the national average of 17.1 per cent And less eat healthily and more are obese than the average for England. It is the second year running the district has failed to meet or better the national average on these measures.
Susan De Jong, 42, from Hockley, made the decision to lose weight when she turned 40, and has kept it off and remained active since.
She said: “I’m surprised Rochford has come out badly, but I suppose people who work and have children just don’t have the time to exercise and eat healthily. I’d encourage people to make the commitment and do it. I do and I’m now fitter.”
The number of obese children is below the average for the country, but is higher than the East of England average. The report says 7.7 per cent of Rochford school children aged four to five are considered obese.
But the youngsters in the district are more active than average, as 95 per cent of under-16s spend at least two hours per week on PE and school sport.
Mend, a programme to teach obese children about exercise and nutrition has been running with great success in south east Essex.
Jenni Simpson, programme manager, said: “We’ve seen some great results and children are learning the benefits and losing weight on our 12-week programme.”
In most indicators, Rochford fares better than average.
In particular, teenage pregnancy rates are lower, as are levels of drug misuse, while life expectancy for men and women is higher at 79.4 and 83.8 respectively.
Other key points from the profile show Rochford is a less deprived area compared to the national average.
Children in the area also have better GCSE attainment and the number of youngsters in poverty is below the average across England.
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