WHICH PARTS OF HAVERING FACE THE BIGGEST HEALTH CHALLENGES? THE AREAS BEING TARGETED OVER CHILDHOOD OBESITY

16th October 202616th October 2026 Francesca Lilleystone 0 Comments Childhood Obesity, Harold Hill, Havering, Health and Wellbeing, Rainham min read

More than one in three children leaving primary school in Havering are overweight or living with obesity, according to council figures. And while the problem affects the whole borough, official health documents identify particular neighbourhoods where targeted action is needed.

Havering may be known for its suburban communities, but the borough faces significant public health challenges, with childhood obesity, adult weight and cardiovascular disease among the issues highlighted by the Council.

The latest figures in Havering’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment show that, in 2023/24, 21 per cent of children aged four to five were overweight or living with obesity. Among children aged 10 to 11, the figure was 38.4 per cent, significantly above the England average of 35.8 per cent.

The figures highlight the scale of the challenge facing local families, schools and health services.

But where are the concerns greatest, and what is being done to address them?

HAROLD HILL: TWO WARDS IDENTIFIED FOR TARGETED ACTION

Gooshays and Heaton in Harold Hill are at the centre of Havering Council’s Healthy Weight Strategy 2024-2029.

The strategy identifies both wards for a targeted neighbourhood approach, following evidence that they consistently experience some of the borough’s highest levels of childhood obesity, alongside higher numbers of children and greater proportions of pupils eligible for free school meals.

The Council’s approach recognises that healthy weight is not simply a question of individual choices. Household finances, access to affordable nutritious food, opportunities to be physically active and the wider environment can all influence health.

The strategy aims to bring together residents, schools, health professionals, community organisations and other partners to make healthier choices easier.

The intention is to use the work in Gooshays and Heaton to inform possible approaches in other neighbourhoods across Havering.

RAINHAM AND WENNINGTON: CHILDHOOD OBESITY FIGURES RAISE QUESTIONS

Rainham and Wennington also feature in historical ward-level data on childhood weight.

Figures published in Havering’s Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2022-2025 showed that, in the data presented for that report, Rainham and Wennington had the highest recorded proportion of reception-aged children who were overweight or living with obesity among the borough’s wards, at 30.1 per cent.

For Year 6 pupils, the same report recorded 40.4 per cent in Rainham and Wennington.

These figures are useful historical indicators, but they should not be presented as the current position without checking the latest ward-level data. They also do not establish that residents in Rainham eat less healthily than people elsewhere.

The Council previously ran a Childhood Obesity Trailblazer Programme in Rainham Village, seeking to address barriers to healthy eating and physical activity. A 2019 Council report described work with local food businesses to encourage healthier options.

The historical programme illustrates that concerns about children’s health in the area have been recognised for several years. The question is how current initiatives are building on that work.

HEART DISEASE AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE ACROSS THE BOROUGH

Obesity is only one part of the public health picture.

Havering Council’s cardiovascular health information records 39,211 residents with hypertension in 2022, equivalent to 14.4 per cent of the population. It also records 6,414 residents with coronary heart disease in 2022/23.

High blood pressure can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes if it is not identified and managed. Smoking, inactivity, diet and excess weight can also contribute to cardiovascular risk.

The Council highlights NHS Health Checks, blood pressure monitoring and other initiatives intended to help residents identify and manage risk factors.

These figures relate to Havering as a whole. They do not show which individual ward has the highest rate of hypertension or heart disease, and a separate ward-level comparison would be needed to establish that.

WHY WHERE YOU LIVE CAN MATTER

Havering Council’s Healthy Weight Strategy recognises that maintaining a healthy weight can be more difficult for people facing financial pressures, long working hours, limited access to healthy food or fewer opportunities for physical activity.

That means tackling health inequalities involves more than encouraging people to change their diets. Schools, health services, food businesses, community organisations, transport and planning can all contribute to creating an environment that supports healthier choices.

For families on tight budgets, the cost and availability of food can be significant considerations. For others, time, mobility or access to suitable activities may be barriers.

The Council’s strategy sets out a borough-wide approach while beginning more intensive neighbourhood work in Gooshays and Heaton.

ARE LOCAL HEALTH INITIATIVES MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

The figures raise important questions about progress.

Have childhood obesity levels improved in the areas targeted by the Council? How do current rates compare between Havering’s wards? And what support is available to families who want to improve their health but face financial or practical barriers?

The Council’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Healthy Weight Strategy provide a starting point for understanding the problem. Publishing clear, regularly updated ward-level figures would help residents see where the greatest challenges remain and assess whether local programmes are delivering results.

The evidence shows that childhood obesity is a significant issue across Havering, with Gooshays and Heaton specifically identified for targeted action. Historical data also highlights concerns in Rainham and Wennington.

The challenge now is to turn that evidence into measurable improvements, ensuring children and adults throughout the borough have a fair opportunity to live healt

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