Healthy Surrey:

Healthy Surrey

Whole Systems Approach to obesity in Surrey

A system-wide approach to tackle obesity at a local level.

Actions to tackle obesity at a local level do not just benefit people's health. They can also have positive impacts on other local agendas including employability and productivity of local populations, as well as the potential to reduce the demand for health and social care.

There is growing recognition that a whole systems approach, involving stakeholders from across the local system, is what is needed to tackle obesity.

A whole systems approach enables local stakeholders, including communities, to come together, share an understanding of the reality of the challenge, consider how the local system is operating, and where there are the greatest opportunities for change. Stakeholders agree actions and decide, as a network, how to work together in an integrated way to bring about sustainable long-term systems change.

The following is a brief overview of the whole systems approach to obesity, setting out the six phases of the approach. Refer to the Whole Systems Approach to obesity guidance for the full guidance and framework.

Phase 1 - set up

The first phase of the Whole Systems Approach (WSA) is the set up phase. This phase aims to secure senior level support and establish the necessary governance and resource structure to implement the approach.

Phase 2 - building the local picture

The aim of this phase is to build a compelling narrative explaining why obesity matters locally and to create a shared understanding of how obesity is addressed at a local level.

For this you will need to collate key information about obesity in your area; gain an understanding of local assets including community capacity and interest; establish an overview of current actions; and identify those currently engaged in supporting work around obesity.

Links to local data and relevant guidance can be found in the resources section.

Phase 3 - mapping the local system

Phase 3 brings stakeholders together, by way of a first workshop, to create a comprehensive map of the local system that is understood to cause obesity. This will enable stakeholders to begin to develop a shared vision.

Phase 4 - action

In this phase stakeholders reconvene, by way of a second workshop, to prioritise areas where they can intervene in the local system and to propose collaborative and aligned actions.

Phase 5 - managing the system network

Phase 5 is about developing the stakeholder network and agreeing on the action plan that has been developed in phase 4.

Phase 6 - reflect and refresh

In this phase stakeholders reflect on the process of undertaking a whole systems approach; monitor and evaluate actions; identify areas for strengthening; and adapt the process to reflect how the system changes over time.

Resources

The WSA framework resources provide tools and guidance to support you as you work through the six phases of the framework.

Data and guidance

Planning

During Phase 2 Building the local picture and Phase 3 Mapping the local system you will be identifying and bringing together stakeholders who form part of the whole system approach to obesity.

The following guidance/information around Planning in relation to health and wellbeing will be useful when working on Phases 2 and 3, and potentially Phase 4 Action.

More information