title: How can planning add value to obesity prevention programmes? A qualitative study of planning and planners in the Healthy Towns programme in England.
abstract: The planning profession has been advocated as an untapped resource for obesity prevention, but little is known about how planners view their roles and responsibilities in this area. This paper investigates the role of planners in the Healthy Towns programme in England, and explores the limits and potential for obesity prevention within planning policy and practice. Using a qualitative approach, 23 planning stakeholders were interviewed, identifying the potential for planning in public health, particularly the 'health proofing' of local planning policy. National and local governments should better align planning and health policies to support collaboration between planners and public health practitioners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: May Goodwin
authors.affiliation: Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mapp
authors.affiliation: Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sautkina
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK; UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), University of Cambridge, UK; MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ogilvie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK; Fuse, UKCRC Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petticrew
authors.affiliation: Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cummins
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010934:Planning Techniques; D011050:Policy Making; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Community health; Healthy Towns; Obesity; Planning