How can planning add value to obesity prevention programmes? A qualitative study of planning and planners in the Healthy Towns programme in England

Denise May Goodwin; Fiona Mapp; Elena Sautkina; Andy Jones; David Ogilvie; Martin White; Mark Petticrew; Steven Cummins

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.08.012

How can planning add value to obesity prevention programmes? A qualitative study of planning and planners in the Healthy Towns programme in England

Health Place. 2014 Nov:30:120-6. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.08.012. Epub 2014 Sep 23.

Authors

Denise May Goodwin¹, Fiona Mapp¹, Elena Sautkina¹, Andy Jones², David Ogilvie³, Martin White⁴, Mark Petticrew¹, Steven Cummins¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
² School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK; UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), University of Cambridge, UK.
³ UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), University of Cambridge, UK; MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.
⁴ Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK; Fuse, UKCRC Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK.

PMID: 25255168
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.08.012

Abstract

The planning profession has been advocated as an untapped resource for obesity prevention, but little is known about how planners view their roles and responsibilities in this area. This paper investigates the role of planners in the Healthy Towns programme in England, and explores the limits and potential for obesity prevention within planning policy and practice. Using a qualitative approach, 23 planning stakeholders were interviewed, identifying the potential for planning in public health, particularly the 'health proofing' of local planning policy. National and local governments should better align planning and health policies to support collaboration between planners and public health practitioners.

Keywords: Community health; Healthy Towns; Obesity; Planning.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

England
Health Promotion / standards*
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Obesity / prevention & control*
Planning Techniques
Policy Making
Qualitative Research

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding