MORE needs to be done to prevent unhealthy living in Worcestershire as a report reveals more than half of the county’s adults are overweight or obese.

In her annual report titled ‘Prevention is better than cure’, director of Public Health, Frances Howie, said a 2014 call by the NHS to “get serious” about prevention has “yet to be realised” in Worcestershire and has called on councils to get better at promoting healthier lifestyles.

She said: “More needs to be done to ensure a consistent approach to healthy planning across all districts in Worcestershire, and elected members and planning officers at county and district level have an important part to play.”

The report showed that 290,000 people in Worcestershire are overweight or obese, 65,000 people smoke, 140,000 drink alcohol to excess and 98,000 are physically inactive.

Dr Howie said continuing with those elements of an unhealthy lifestyle would “further widen the gap between where we are and where we should be.”

She said: “A range of initiatives are now in place across the county which aim to tackle prevention at every level.

“However, given the continued pattern of rising demand, we are still some way from the radical upgrade in prevention which is needed for the long-term sustainability of our services.

“It is timely to return now to revisit our ambition, and to consider whether or not we yet have an effective system approach to deliver impact for our local population.

“There is a strong evidence base that it is better and cheaper to prevent problems before they arise, in short, that prevention is better than cure.

“Focussing and investing in prevention will improve health outcomes; keep people independent; and improve people's well-being and quality of life.”

The report calls for a number of changes - many conceptual – including taking a “refreshed, system” approach to prevention which would be an “investment for a healthier future” and to work “differently” with communities so residents help each other out.

The report also proposes the more physical approach of setting up a Worcestershire Prevention Board to drive improvement and to oversee development.