Smoking in decline but waistlines are growing

Tobacco smokers accounted for 16% of the local population in 2008, falling to 13% in the latest figures.

But obesity rates have have risen from 18% in 2008 to 24% in 2018.

UK statistics show a similar trend, with 21% of the population smoking in 2008, falling to 14.1% by 2019, and 25% of adults classed as having excess weight in 2008 rising to 28% in 2019.

‘Rates of adults living with obesity in the Bailiwick are lower than the UK,’ said Lucy Whitman, healthier weight lead for the Health Improvement Commission for Guernsey and Alderney.

But the trend for rising prevalence of obesity and being overweight are similar, she said.

Local adults submit self-reported height and weight figures, so it was possible those figures could be higher, Ms Whitman said, whereas UK adults were measured.

‘Local figures for numbers of children living with a raised weight status [overweight or obese] – which are measured, as opposed to self-reported – have remained high but stable since 2013.

‘In 2019, 8% of children in Year 1 were living with obesity and 14% of children in Year 5.’

Public Health and States of Guernsey campaigns aim to reduce the health, social and financial harms associated with tobacco use, focusing on creating an environment where smoke-free is the norm.

‘Smoking prevalence in the adult population in Guernsey and Alderney is 13%, a figure that is lower than in Jersey and England (16% in both jurisdictions) although the local smoking prevalence has not changed since 2013.’

Tobacco imports have decreased over the past decade, resulting from the legal requirement to obtain a licence to sell tobacco in 2014 and price increases of tobacco products.

Businesses selling tobacco products fell from 167 in 2015 to 44 in 2018, and from 1988 to 2018 smoking prevalence fell from more than 30% to 13%.

Data from the 2019 Young People’s Survey showed 98% of primary school children aged 10 and 11 had never smoked, and 7% more of those aged 12-15 reported never smoking to the previous survey.

Ms Whitman said factors driving a person’s weight were complex, involving individual biology with a range of social, economic and environmental factors.

Many HIC campaigns support the Bailiwick to eat well, be active and maintain a healthier weight, which aim to bring mental and physical benefits.

Increased funding has supported local research, allowed a larger team, and created new routes to public engagement.

Local surveys have shown improvements to eating well and physical activity levels, but support is still needed for islanders to meet guidelines in these areas, Ms Whitman said.

Smoking:

• Guernsey signed the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention for Tobacco Control in 2019, which aims to reduce tobacco use and exposure.

• Young people are given comprehensive anti-smoking lessons from Years 6 to 11, complemented by a peer-led and evidence-based smoking prevention programme to normalise anti-smoking habits. This trains 12- to 14-year-old students as peer supporters.

• Pregnant women are supported by a dedicated midwife to reduce or give up smoking, and any islander can contact Quitline for stop smoking services.

• Selected pharmacies opted to participate in the 2019 Stop Smoking Programme, and nicotine replacement therapy is available in Alderney’s pharmacy.

• This year the Health Improvement Commission will be transferred a range of community-based tobacco harm reduction actions, and the Tobacco Control Strategy will combine with the Drug and Alcohol Strategy to become the ‘Combined Substance Misuse Strategy 2022-2027.’

Obesity:

Current HIC collaborative projects with States’ committees, third sector organisations and private companies include:

• Supporting all early years settings to implement an Eat Well Policy.

• Developing school-wide group approaches to nutrition.

• Active travel school support.

• Adult weight management programme pilots, such as Football Fans in Training and Counterweight Plus.

• Service-wide training for health visitors to support families.

For more information visit: healthimprovement.gg