Healthy weight starts with affordability

Our team recently had a great chat with Public Health colleagues at Trafford Council to share insight from our 2025 member survey and lived experience work, helping inform their Healthy Weight Needs Assessment.

The Trafford data seems to tell a clear story. Over 50 percent of local members worry about having enough food, only 32 % could afford an unexpected £100 expense, and just 12.6 % report eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Yet 86%  can reach a shop within a 20 minute walk. So it looks like the barrier is not access to shops. It is affordability.

This reflects the wider patterns we outline in our Breadline Brief and Slice of Life research . When budgets tighten, families cut quantity and variety. 61% say healthy food is simply too expensive. Healthy weight interventions will not succeed if families cannot afford the healthier option.

Community led models like The Bread and Butter Thing reduce everyday pressure, bringing affordable fresh food directly into neighbourhoods removing stigma and referral thresholds. During 2025 in Trafford alone, our members have generated over £567,000 in savings, creating breathing space in tight budgets.

If we are serious about tackling obesity and diet related ill health, affordability must sit at the heart of strategy.

We are always happy to share our insight with other local authorities, NHS teams or partners who want to ground healthy weight work in real world experience.

If you’d like to learn more about our approach or discuss how these insights could support your work, please get in touch.