Given the levels of relative deprivation in parts of Yorkshire and the Humber, it is not surprising that the region faces significant public health challenges.

 Childhood obesity is increasing, in line with worrying national trends. However, for the period 2000-02, Yorkshire and Humber had England’s lowest level of obesity for boys aged 5-15. But for girls in the same age group, the figure was above the national average.

Obesity levels for the 16-24 age group show a dramatic rise: obesity in males increases from the lowest regional prevalence in children (18.9 per cent) to the highest regional prevalence amongst young adults (41.6 per cent). For females in the region, the increase is from 27.2 per cent in children to 35.2 per cent in young adults.

Fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity are underlying determinants of obesity. Figure 2 shows information on the average number of portions of fruit and vegetables ‘consumed yesterday’, for children and young people aged 5-15 years.

For Yorkshire and the Humber, it was 2.4 portions (that is, roughly half of the recommended daily intake), a figure that is statistically significantly worse than the England average.

In relation to physical activity, the region fares better: the percentage of children who were ‘physically active for 60 minutes or more (daily) on seven days in the last week’ was 68.8 per cent − not quite statistically significant from the England average (65.1 per cent), but comparing favourably within a regional range of 57-69 per cent.

But Yorkshire and Humber has the third-highest number of people identified as being hazardous/harmful alcohol users. Hazardous alcohol-users include those drinking above the World Health Organization’s ‘sensible’ limits but not yet experiencing harm, while harmful alcohol users include those drinking above the WHO’s limits and experiencing harm.

Together with the North East, Yorkshire and Humber has the highest percentage of people with alcohol dependence of any region in England (5.2 per cent, compared to the England average of 3.6 per cent). Looking at the figures nationally by local authority, the cities of Doncaster and Leeds have rates that put them among the highest 40 per cent.

Regional data on alcohol use amongst children and young people is scarce, although a national survey (National Centre for Social Research, 2005) found that 23 per cent of pupils had consumed alcohol in the week before being questioned, with figures fluctuating between a fifth and just over a quarter since 1988. Of those that do drink, average weekly consumption is rising and now stands at 10.7 units.

Buying from off- and on-licensed premises is only one method that young people use to obtain alcohol, as recent figures from 2004 research show.

Unsurprisingly, among pupils aged 13 and under, the highest proportion obtain alcohol via friends or relatives (44 per cent among 13 year-olds, 40 per cent among 11-12 year-olds), although 12 per cent of pupils aged 11-12 in the survey reported buying alcohol in pubs and bars. By the age of 15, this proportion increases to over a quarter.

Obesity levels and alcohol consumption are significant public health issues that present a risk to the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Yorkshire and the Humber, both now and in later life.
Better information is needed to understand levels and patterns of obesity and alcohol consumption at local level.