Using Big Data to Tackle Obesity

Perspective from the ASO

Pinki SahotaProfessor of Nutrition and Childhood Obesity

Chair of the Association for the Study of Obesity

The UK Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO)

• ASO is the UK's foremost organisation dedicated to the understanding, prevention and treatment of obesity.

• Founded in 1967, the first such organisation worldwide and is affiliated to the European (EASO) and The World Obesity Federation (WOF)

• Organised the 1st International Congress on Obesity, held in London in 1974 and the 2nd European Congress on Obesity, held in Oxford in 1989.

• Founding body of the International Journal of Obesity.

ASO MissionThe ASO aims to develop an understanding of obesity through the pursuit of excellence in research and education, the facilitation of contact between individuals and organisations, and the promotion of action to prevent and treat obesity.

The objectives of ASO are to:

Promote the professional awareness of obesity and its impact on health

Educate and disseminate recent research on the causes, consequences, treatment, and prevention of obesity

Provide opinion leadership on obesity in the UK

Enhance understanding of prevention and treatment of obesity throughout the UK

Forge links between individuals and organisations concerned with the study of obesity throughout the UK

Connect active researchers and practitioners from diverse disciplines who contribute to the development of an evidence-based UK perspective on obesity.

Provide appropriate input on the UK perspective at a European and international level through EASO and the World Obesity Federation

Membershipwide range of professions:

• Clinicians – surgeons, GP’s • scientists, researchers, early career researchers • allied health professionals working in the field of

obesity research and education, • psychologists• opinion leaders and advocacy groups, • Commercial weight management companies• Food industry • Policy makers

Current ASO activities • Conferences: national conferences to broaden awareness and

disseminate current research on the causes, consequences, treatment and prevention of obesity.

• In 2014, the ASO established the UK Congress on Obesity (UKCO). • Regional groups: network of 9 regional groups throughout the UK

that successfully link researchers and practitioners in the field of obesity.

• Consultations and media: ASO Trustees and members provide expert input to policies, guidance e.g. NICE, DH, consultations and media responses

• Awards: The ASO operates a range of award schemes to celebrate the best in obesity research and practice.

ASO and the Strategic Network for Obesity

How are activities aligned?• Bring together established researchers including early career

researchers from across the UK to develop novel and innovative research opportunities.

• Aim to answer fundamental questions about the aetiology of obesity which could then be applied to prevention, early identification, improved service development and targeted treatment approaches.

• Aim to involve a range of stakeholders e.g. industry, charities and the public sector to inform and conduct applied and policy relevant research.

ASO Adult COM’s Network

Those working in adult obesity – providing services, research

Opportunity to • network • share good practice • develop and deliver multidisciplinary training • Research collaborations• Start to mapping of services across the UK – first time!• Data on obesity treatment sites; who accessed by, outcomes etc.• Launch in London 2nd Dec 2015

Standard Evaluation Framework

• To evaluate obesity treatment programmes

• Data not centralised • current programme providers• Local authorities

Centralising data would provide a wealth of data on• effectiveness of current interventions; programme reach etc.

• Inform intervention improvement/developments

• inform planning, commissioning or decommissioning of services

Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England (Oct 2011)“a sustained downward trend in the level of excess weight in children by 2020”

• Responsibility Deal - Unites food industry, government

Calorie reduction pledge - by 5 billion calories (kcal) a day

• Reformulation: Recipe/ menu changes,

• Portion size

• Development of lower calorie options; e.g. 99 kcal chocolate bars

• Encouraging consumers to choose healthier options:

• Impact evaluation – no change in consumption patterns

• Voluntary!

Access to:• food industry data• consumer purchasing data• demographic data• prevalence data

Big Data and Obesity• provide obesity-related health intelligence from a variety of sources to local

authorities; NHS policy makers; health professionals to provide:

• better understanding of the obesity epidemic and the risk factors (behavioural, cultural, social, environmental, physical, etc)

• a breadth of knowledge in understanding of obesity at national and local geographical areas

• In depth understanding of obesogenic environmental factors

• Integration of health and urban/local planning decisions – supportive environment

Big Data and Obesity• Awareness of existing services and gaps

• Highlight opportunities for obesity prevention and treatment to target services to local area and local needs

• Mapping will inform local authorities, policy makers, health and social care professionals- improved planning, commissioning, de-commissioning of services and programmes

• Provide tailored support to individuals and communities to promote healthier lifestyle behaviours (e.g. knowledge, skills, self-efficacy)

Big Data – application to practice

• Introduction of green gyms• Targeted work within schools or community projects

which use targeted education • Development of walking and cycling routes • Areas for sport and recreation • Regulation of food outlets by planning depts• A ban on new fast food outlets being located close to

schools and colleges )

Policy makers • Adopt a systems-based approach to address obesity

- addressing obesity at multi-level governance structures such as at local, regional and national level.

• E.g. policies intended to have lasting impact across settings on the availability and price of fruit and vegetables (schools, workplaces, food outlets)

Big Data and Evaluation of Policy

Evaluation of Policy not well evaluated

• Modelling to evaluate the impact of 20% tax on sugary soft drinks;

• Evaluate regulation of food advertising across all media on consumption

• Evaluate impact of food promotions in stores on consumption patterns

• Evaluate the impact of green spaces, recreational space, cycle routes on physical activity;

NHS and health professionals

• map provision of weight management services ; Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3; commercial weight management groups;

• Identify gaps in provision for adult and childhood services

• Characterise attenders, non attenders, programme reach

• Inform obesity care-pathways and commissioning of services

• Tailored interventions for “hard to reach” groups (recruitment, engagement and retention)

Role of Big DataObesity Maps to inform on obesity prevalence with varying granularity and filters.• Obesity map for adults/children by race/ethnicity and geographical

region (post codes within cities);• Obesity map for adults/children by socio-economic status level and

geographical region (post codes within cities);• High density areas obesity map for both children and adults; • Overlay of obesity map for adults/children and the locations of fast food

outlets within a region of interest;• Overlay of obesity map, the locations or primary and secondary schools

with their respective % of free school meals uptake.

Mapping services• Obesity Face-to-Face Support Map• Map for obesity community-based groups ;• Map for obesity counselling and well-being

services;• Map for obesity healthcare and social care support

services.

The environment• Well-being activities Map• A map showing walking and biking trails around Leeds area;• Bike Maps - A map of city's bike paths, lanes and

greenways;• Hike Trails - A map of hiking trails in local areas;• Find bike rental locations in and around local areas;• Green space, parks and recreational centres;• Leisure centres, leisure facilities and healthy lifestyle

activities.

Data analytics and decision making • for public health surveillance • for health professionals, policy makers, local authorities • to help them understand the scale of the obesity epidemic and its influencing

factors

• statistical analysis/modelling techniques provide health intelligence (based on data aggregation, prediction, trend analysis, cluster analysis, correlations, etc…)

• the analytics will provide information on the state of health and wellbeing, obesity and health risks, health needs, and health outcomes of the local population to inform local Health and Wellbeing plans commissioning of services tailored and targeted to locally specific needs.

Whole Systems Approach to Obesity• Three year national programme• Translating Foresight into a workable

Whole Systems Approach • Understanding what it means in practice

for LAs• Identifying how LAs can create a whole

systems approach• Road Map: Creating set of strategies,

tools and guides to help them achieve it

Mixed Economy of Evidence

Parallel Process:• Co-production with

LAs• Gather and analyse

insights, evidence and ideas from organisations, practitioners and researchers internationally

Broad range of system models (national &

local) will be explored to ensure a truly whole

system approach

Whole Systems Approach to Obesity

• Co-producing a Road Map, strategies and materials: how can LAs create a whole systems approach

Input welcomed

• Cross sector perspectives• Join Community of Learning • Newsletters and events• Register interest at http://

www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/wholesystemsobesity

Aspirations• pooling the wealth of existing data to inform future

research, policy and practice to address obesity• To develop models and methods to better understand

the obesogenic environment• In depth understanding about the obesogenic

environment• what works well and for whom • what we need to improve• Help us to ask the right questions• Develop much more tailored interventions, practice and

policy

ASO and the Strategic Network for Obesity

• We look forward to the opportunity to engage scientifically with members of the network

• Find out more.........Speak to me!

www.aso.org.uk