Child obesity

You can now view child obesity data for England at Local Authority, PCT and Middle Super Output Area (smaller population groups of around 7200) in the e-atlases available from the National Obesity Observatory (NOO). The maps use data from the National Child Measurement Programme and allow for comparison of obesity indictors with deprivation scores, amongst other indicators. NOO also provides a useful set of Powerpoint slides with clear graphics and charts for presenting child and adult obesity information. There are also a couple of surveys of the relationship between obesity and ethnicity and mental health.

Down the hatch

The UK's drinking behaviour is again under the spotlight with the release of the latest statistics on alcohol use from NHS Information Centre. Alcohol-related hospital admissions in 2009-10 had risen by 12% from the previous year and had topped 1 million. The government's alcohol strategy is due out later this year.

Cancer survival rates

The King's Fund considers the UK's record on cancer survival and the government's Cancer outcomes strategy. The report looks at variations in survival rates, where there remains a notable north-south divide and significant variations for some ethnic groups. However one particularly strong variation is in the survival rates of older people, where the UK lags significantly behind other European countries, especially for lung, ovarian and colorectal cancer. Focus for improvement, the report stresses, should be on reducing delays in diagnosis and improving access to radiotherapy and surgery, as well as primary prevention. Tackling health inequalities and addressing cancer care for older people will also improve cancer outcomes.

Location, location, location

The importance of green space in urban environments has been much studied in recent years. A systematic review from a team at the University of Sheffield assesses the evidence for health benefits of green space. They find that while most studies find in favour of green space, causal relationships are more elusive. Another environmental truism, that the countryside is a healthier place to live, is challenged by a study on mortality differences from the Public Health Observatory Wales. Another study from Durham University finds that living in rural areas is associated with better overall mental health, although notes that in rural areas there deeper divisions between those who are in the workforce and those who are not.

Just so you know

Messages for Munro documents the views of children and young people in care who contributed evidence to the Munro review of the child protection system. The Justice Department has also published a short thematic review of the care of looked after children in custody. It has also been announced that responsibility for commissioning health services for children and young people in secure settings passes to the NHS, in line with Young Offender Institutions. Prior to this, Secure Children's Home and Secure Training Centre commissioned their own healthcare independently, funded by the Ministry of Justice.

Peeling the onion

... is the title of a report from the thinktank the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS), looking at the role of scrutiny and accountability in tackling health inequalities. It draws on projects in 10 areas over the last two years, reviewing thematic interventions (such as alcohol pricing or early intervention for mental health problems) or geographic health inequalities.

Counting the cost

The Family Resources Survey (FRS) introduced questions about deprivation in its 2004/5 round. DWP has just published a review of the evidence by Stephen McKay, chair in social research at the University of Birmingham. The paper looks at these new questions and at the FRS more generally, considering how far it reflects current ideas of material deprivation and proposing some minor changes to the survey.