This document sets out a framework, along with indicators of success that local areas might use to deliver their child obesity goals as part of the NHS Operating Framework, Vital Signs and LAAs.
*This document can be found in in the obesity section of this website.
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Launch of NW Framework for Achieving Healthy Weight for Children and Families
The NW Framework for Achieving Healthy Weight for Children and Families was launched on February 6th. The framework specifies actions to tackle obesity by regional and local organisations with an interest in helping families lead healthier lifestyles. It provides a North West response to the national strategy calling for action, that was launched by the Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson on 23 January.
To see the full document go to the obesity section of this site.
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Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A cross-Government strategy for England.
This cross-government strategy is the first step in a sustained programme to support people to maintain a healthy weight. It will be followed by a public annual report that assesses progress, looks at the latest evidence and trends and makes recommendations for further action.
To see the report go to the Obesity section of this site or visit
www.dh.gov.uk
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Countdown to launch of Target: Wellbeing
Following the successful Target: Wellbeing bid to the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being programme Groundwork Northwest and the wider North West Wellbeing Partnership are now shifting up a gear in anticipation for the ‘start up’ of projects.
The partnership would like to take this opportunity to thank all those at a local and regional level who have helped the project develop. A January briefing has been produced to provide an update on the delivery of the programme and includes details of the recruitment process for the portfolio management team.
The briefing is available in the External Publication section of this website.
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New FSA guidance on developing LAAs
The Food Standards Agency and LACORS have produced guidance for use by Local Authorities, PCTs and their partners. The guidance will be of use when developing LAAs and delivery plans and to illustrate how food activities support the delivery of a wide range of indicators from the recently published National Indicator Set. It is also useful for Government Office LAA Negotiating Teams, especially when reviewing and refreshing LAAs.
To view the document visit the External Publications section of this website or visit
www.food.gov.uk
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The National Child Measurement Programme
The Government is seeking to improve the effectiveness of the NCMP and intend that, all parents of children in Reception (4-5 years old) and Year 6 (10-11 years old) who take part in the NCMP will receive their child’s results, regardless of their weight, unless the parent requests not to receive the results. Parents will still have the opportunity to withdraw their child from the programme and children can also decide not to participate on the day.
The changes will be made through a clause in the Health and Social Care Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on Thursday 15 November 2007. Department of Health hopes these changes will be in place for the beginning of the 2008/09 NCMP.
This announcement follows on from the release of the Foresight Report (see below), which highlighted the scale of obesity in England, and the increasing prevalence of overweight and obese children in the UK.
Further information: www.dh.gov.uk / Obesity section of this website.
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The Foresight Report: Tackling Obesities: Future Choices
Mid October saw the publication of a much anticipated report by the Government Office for Science. By looking ahead 40 years, using scientific evidence, commissioned research and expert advice, the Foresight project, ‘Tackling Obesities: Future Choices’ has taken a strategic view of the issue of obesity.
Foresight’s work indicates that a bold whole system approach is critical and required partnership between government, science, business and civil society.
The summary of this document can be found in the Obesity section of this site. For the full report visit www.foresight.gov.uk
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Missing the target - Tackling Childhood Obesity
A new pamphlet published 15/10/07 and put together by the Children’s Food Campaign, has a number of simple messages: that the obesity crisis has become the nation’s most pressing public health problem; that this cannot be solved without improving children’s diets; and that, to date, the Government has not yet undertaken the steps necessary to improve children’s diets.
The information is written by a range of experts from the worlds of medicine, academia and ublic interest organisations. A number of contributors assert that the Government will not meet it Public Service Agreement target to stop the year-on-year growth of childhood obesity by 2010. Indeed it is widely anticipated that the Government will drop this target around the time of publication of the Foresight report into obesity.
This Pamphlet makes that case that much more could have been done – and can still be done now – to reduce levels of childhood obesity and improve children’s health and wellbeing.
For more information see the obesity section of this site.
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FOOD IN SCHOOLS: Encouraging Healthier Catering
This Ofsted document reports that the number of pupils eating school meals had fallen in the majority of schools visited. The reasons included cost; a lack of choice; lack of consultation with pupils over the content of menus; pupils’ unfamiliarity with some of the food; and poor marketing. *For the full report see the Schools and Other Settings Section of this website.
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Report shows significant increase in children reaching 5 A DAY
The number of children achieving their 5 A DAY target has increased by 13% in 2 years according to a report published September 3rd by the Department of Health.
Figures show that the number of children achieving 5 A DAY has increased from 27% in March 2004 to 44% in November 2006. Overall there has been significant increases in the consumption of fruit and vegetables since the last evaluation carried out 2 years ago, and from the baseline measured in March 2004 before the Scheme was introduced into the schools included in this study.
See www.dh.gov.uk for more information.
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Guidance on salt reduction in meat products for smaller businesses
The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), in collaboration with the FSA, has published a guidance document for small and medium sized businesses on salt reduction. This publication provides information and practical tips for businesses on how to reduce salt in meat products, while considering factors such as food safety, labelling and additives.
For more information visit:
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SFT first headteachers survey reveals numbers holding firm after new standards introduced.
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'Bugs Like It Hot' is the name this year of National Food Safety Week (11-17 June). This theme has been chosen, as there is a rise in cases of food poisoning during the summer months.
The FSA advises the public to keep food cool when eating outside. Just ten invisible bugs in your food can multiply to 1,000 in six hours; 100,000 in less than ten hours; and to more than a million in 12 hours. And, when it’s very hot, bugs can multiply even faster!
This is the first year that the Food Standards Agency has been the lead partner in National Food Safety Week.
The Action Plan outlines the links between food and health, and highlights why and how specific actions to improve food and nutrition can significantly reduce ill health and health inequalities in the North West.
The full document can be found in the Taskforce publications section of this website.
A series of TV advertisements raising awareness of traffic light colour-coded front of pack food labels - researched and developed by the FSA - will air for the first time on 17 January at 7:45pm on ITV. Other marketing activity to accompany the TV work will feature in the press, on poster sites and via the web.
Labelling complex foods such as ready meals, pies and pizzas with clear and honest nutritional information is an important step in helping to improve the nation’s diet. The FSA’s recommendations for nutritional labelling are based on robust, published consumer research and extensive consultation. This clearly showed that traffic light colour-coding was key in helping shoppers choose healthier products quickly and easily.
A recent Agency tracking survey shows that shoppers clearly understand this approach. 76% of those asked interpreted a red light on a product as meaning the food is high in something that we should be trying to cut down or keeping on eye on – only 16% interpreted it as meaning it is unhealthy and shouldn’t be eaten at all.