A report published yesterday by the Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research Centre and the Department of Health has used evidence from a diverse range of sources to identify the main areas where families with children under 11 need further support to limit the risk of unhealthy weight gain.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Public Health Minister Caroline Flint today launched the Healthy Living Initiative, a programme to help families lead healthier lives.
A report published yesterday by the Medical Research Council Human Nutrition Research Centre and the Department of Health has used evidence from a diverse range of sources to identify the main areas where families with children under 11 need further support to limit the risk of unhealthy weight gain. These barriers are: - limited parental awareness of weight status and associated health risks - parental beliefs that a healthy lifestyle is too challenging - pressures on parents which undermine healthy food choices - a perception that there are limited opportunities for active lifestyles
The Government's Healthy Living programme will tackle these barriers through a range of initiatives aimed at families with young children. It acknowledges that while there is a high level of awareness of the importance of good diet and physical activity, some parents need additional support to transfer awareness into action. The initiatives are designed to give parents the support and tools they need to recognise when their children are overweight and to tackle the problem. Building on existing programmes the initiatives will be rolled out throughout the year and into 2008 by the Government and its partners and which will focus on breaking down the barriers identified in the MRC report.
Caroline Flint said:
"Tackling overweight and obesity in children is complex because there are many factors which contribute to the problem. And while we have been successful in raising awareness of the importance of good nutrition and exercise, putting that awareness into action has proved more difficult for some families.
"We know young families are aware of the 5 A Day message but are not necessarily eating 5 A Day. Top Tips for Top Mums will help families share ideas about what works for them in overcoming the barriers to a healthy diet.
"Over the next 12 months we will be rolling out a series of other initiatives linking in with partner organisations across the public sector, the food manufacturing and retail sector and with voluntary organisations to support families live a healthy life based on a helathy diet and increased physically activity. The Healthy Living Initiative is about providing support when and where it's required and in a way that people will respond to."
The first initiative Top Tips for Top Mums is an extension of the highly successful 5 A Day campaign and encourages parents across the country to share tips and ideas with each other on how they get their children to eat more fruit and vegetables. Actress and mum of three Patsy Palmer will be supporting the campaign. A host of practical tips have been posted on website http://www.5aday.nhs.uk to help parents improve their childrens' diets and share their own experiences.
Top Tips for Top Mums targets young families from low income backgrounds with children aged between two and 11. Recent research by the Food Standards Agency showed that only 46 per cent of people on lower incomes eat 5 A Day compared to 72 per cent of those on higher incomes. Reasons given by parents for their children not eating enough fruit and vegetables include cost, fussy eaters, limited time and cooking skills and a lack of structured meal times.
The Top Tips for Top Mums campaign comprises of the 5 A DAY website http://www.5aday.nhs.uk , a media campaign and partnerships with key retailers and other organisations. We are also producing TV and Radio filler advertisements which will be available to TV and Radio Networks from May 2007.
Launching Top Tips for Top Mums, Patsy Palmer said:
"As a working mum of three children under 15, I am very happy to be involved with the Top Tips for Top Mums campaign. It's really important that we encourage our children to enjoy eating more fruit and veg but I understand the problems us mums face, as kids can be so fussy when it comes to eating healthy food. This campaign will help by giving parents the opportunity to share ideas which have worked for them and their families and helped their kids eat more fruit and veg."
Co-author of the MRC HNR report Dr Susan Jebb said;
"Modern lifestyles favour obesity and our evidence shows that parents face challenges in promoting heathy eating and physically active lifestyles. The report provides a platform from which to consider how best to support parents with practical strategies to reduce the impact of the obesogenic environment. This report focuses on families, but tackling obesity will require unprecedented change across the whole of society."
Dr Frankie Phillips, dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association said;
"Eating 5 a day sets kids up for a healthy lifestyle. Fruit and veg of different colours provide a wide range of vitamins, minerals, fibre and healthy antioxidants, which can help to protect the body throughout life. Research has shown that eating 5 or more a day can help to maintain a healthier diet. Looking to our childrens' future, people who eat lots of fruit and veg can have a lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure strokes and some cancers. To get the best benefit from the nutrients packed into fruit and veg, everyone should aim for a variety of different types and colours every day".
Notes to Editors:
1. A range of 5 A Day tips can be found at http://www.5aday.nhs.uk. Tips such as freezing small amounts of mashed up veg to save time, using frozen and canned fruit and veg which has just as much goodness, buying fruit and veg in season to save cost, and hiding veg in sauces for fussy eaters are all practical ideas for parents to try with their children without dramatically changing their lifestyle. Top Tips for Top Mums is now asking mums, dads, grandparents and carers to share their tips and be part of the campaign. The top tips will then be displayed on the 5 A Day website, via a continuing media campaign, through the 5 A Day partner organisations and stakeholders in retail activity.
2. Parents can email their tips for integrating 5 A Day into their children's diets to mums@5adaytoptips.co.uk, log them on the website http://www.5aday.nhs.uk or alternatively post them ( with their name and contact details ) to the freepost address: 5 A Day 'Top Tips for Top Mums', FREEPOST NAT 13714, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7BR.
3. The 5 A DAY programme aims to help people consume a variety of at least 5 fruit or vegetable portions per day as recommended by World Health Organisation and the UK's Scientific Advisory Committee on nutrition. It is a Department of Health initiative, working with partners across government and in the public and private sectors. For more information log on to the 5 A DAY website http://www.5aday.nhs.uk
4. The 5 A DAY programme launched in 2002 has been very effective in increasing awareness of the 5 A Day Message among consumers as a whole, and is increasingly influential with manufacturer and retailers, many of whom have devised their own five a day logos and promoted products using the five a day message
5. The Department of Health's 5 A DAY logo was launched in March 2003; over 550 organisations are now licensed to use it, and it now appears on over 700 fruit and vegetable products in shops and restaurants
6. The FSA Consumer Attitudes Survey 2006 showed that 72% of people are now aware that they should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, up from 51% in 2002. Those reporting that they had eaten 5 A DAY rose from 30% in 2005 to 57% in 2006, but it should be noted that the method of questioning was far more detailed in 2006. Therefore the increase while encouraging cannot be properly assessed against previous findings.
For more information about the 5 A DAY Top Tips for Top Mums campaign please contact Emily Shelton or Laura McIntosh on 0207 815 3900 or email 5aday@munroforster.com
This story was released on 2007-03-16. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.