The whole society approach: Making a giant leap on childhood health

Article

Health improved radically in the 20th century, but progress has since stalled.

The UK has the opportunity to make another ‘giant leap’ forward; to achieve this, the government will need to address growing levels of ‘health risk’ faced by children. Any progress would be good for health, business and the economy.

A recent increase in ambition, as shown by government's 'obesity strategy' announcement in July 2020, is good, but we must still go further and faster. In particular, we need to:

  • expand ambition from obesity to all health issues
  • tackle the link between childhood health and issues like marginalisation, poverty and deprivation
  • ensure we are using the full range of levers offered by a collective approach.

This report outlines what we call a ‘whole society’ approach, designed to make these gains.

Related items

  1. Southport high street on a sunny day. A colourful selection of people out shopping and some planters full of flowers

    Places to come together: Rebuilding local solidarities against the far right

    A discussion paper on the fight for local investment and why government must create, facilitate and maintain spaces where solidarity might thrive.
  2. A young woman with a long ponytail sits looking out of a bus window

    State of the North 2025 - The kids aren't alright: How to deliver for young people in the North

    This year’s State of the North report highlights how regional inequality exacerbates the growing challenges facing many young northerners. 
  3. An illustration of an ideal public transport system: a smiling family cross a road near a green bus with houses and trees in the background

    The transport challenge for low-income households

    Many people living on low incomes in the UK are limited in their ability to access the building blocks of a good life because of poor transport provision.