Local councils in England have warned that government cuts to public health funding could thwart efforts to tackle obesity.

Newly published figures from the Local Government Association (LGA) show that councils expect to spend £127m on tackling obesity during the financial year 2016-17 – down from £140m spent in 2015-16.

The spending is used on providing leisure facilities, weight management services, exercise referral schemes and extending the offer of free or reduced-cost sport, such as swimming. The numbers also include the cost of running the government’s National Child Measurement Programme, which councils are responsible for.

To find out more click here; Cuts in public health spending ‘threaten anti-obesity efforts’