Worldwide 22 million children under 5 are severely overweight. Change4Life states: ‘If we carry on as we are, 90% of today’s children could be overweight or obese by 2050. Changes have to be made now if we are to stem the rising tide of obesity.’ Therefore it is important for parents to join and support this campaign along with their families. This campaign will open their eyes to the great health concern that is obesity for the sake of the nation’s children.
The government has produced posters and leaflets which are bright, colourful and eye-catching for both adults and children, which are placed in hospitals, GP surgeries etc. They not only contain information about Change4Life but they also contain advice and tips on how to keep fit, how to change your diet so that it is healthier and how families can encourage children to eat the right foods. The government also produced a website where everyone can access a wide range of information which may change not only their own lives but also the lives of their families. Change4Life also works with convenience stores in poorer areas where access to fresh fruit & vegetables and fresh meat is very limited to give people that much needed access. The government has also produced TV adverts which are played during the hours between 8am and 4:30pm, when children are more likely to view them as the target audience of Change4Life is families. On the following pages there are examples of a Change4Life leaflet and a print screen of their website.
Change4Life promotion: “ Leaflet (Pgs. 8-9)
Change4Life promotion: Website
School Food Trust – “Eat better, Do better”
The School Food Trust strategy was established in 2005. In May 2006 the government asked the School Food Trust to lead their national implementation. This strategy is set out to make sure that the average school lunch offers the right mix of energy and nutrients for growing children, and limits their exposure to sugary, fatty, and salty foods.
The School Food Trust strategy is responsible for the program. It has established the biggest national network of healthy cooking clubs for children and families. This strategy has already reached more than 1.5 million people with healthy cooking activities, and more than half of those taking part say they eat a healthier diet as a result of learning to cook.
This strategy has proven that it works and schools all over the world should follow it in order to reduce obesity risks amongst children. The Let’s Get Cooking campaign makes sure that the children’s parents learn how to cook healthy meals so the children can become healthy and reduce risk of obesity, balanced meals not only at school but also at home. This helps children to adapt. Schools also teach children how to have healthy lifestyles and even how to cook healthy meals. It gives children motivation to eat healthy food.
The front covers of two online recipe booklets
Sexual Health
The National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) is an NHS sexual health programme that was set up by the Department of Health in England in 2003. Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK; affecting both men and women. Since the launch of the programme nearly one and a half million chlamydia tests have been performed by the NCSP. The NCSP aims to ensure that all sexually active young people under 25 are aware of chlamydia, its effects, and have access to free and confidential testing services.
Alcohol
In 2008 Drinkaware was launched. It is an independent, UK-wide charity that is supported by voluntary donations from across the drinks industry including ASDA, ALDI and Marks & Spencer’s, pledged approximately £5.2 million per year through to 2012. Drink aware aims to equip people with the knowledge they need to make decisions about how much they drink. Drink aware aims to change the UK’s drinking habits for the better. They promote responsible drinking and find innovative ways to challenge the national drinking culture to help reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm. They also work with organisations and individuals across the UK to make the nation aware of alcohol and its effects by using a range of mediums, such as film, multimedia and TV.
Drugs
Reducing Demand, Restricting Supply, Building Recovery: Supporting People to Live a Drug Free Life. This strategy was launched in 2010 by the it aims to reduce the harm caused by drugs by initially stabilising addictions, rather than trying to end them.
This strategy has two overarching aims to:
• Reduce illicit and other harmful drug use; and
• Increase the numbers recovering from their dependence.
The strategy outlines the setting up of "Community Recovery Champions" networks where people who have recovered from drug dependency could mentor others who seek their help.
Mental Health
At any one time, one in six people has a common mental health problem, such as an anxiety disorder or depression, and one in 100 has a severe mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Six million people in the UK have an anxiety disorder and/or depression. The Department of Health is working to ensure that people look after their mental health and can receive high-quality, personalized support if they need it.
The new Mental Health Strategy will be…
- Mainstreaming mental health.
- Tackling mental health from two sides to improve outcomes for people with mental illness and build resilience and wellbeing to prevent mental health problems in the whole community.
- Taking measures to improve public mental health and wellbeing
Conclusion
There are many public health campaigns which aim to tackle the main health concerns of the government. Mental health, drugs, sexual health and alcohol are the main health concerns however obesity is by far the government’s biggest concern as it is becoming more and more common amongst the public. Our nation is becoming bigger but what concern’s the government more is that our children are becoming bigger in size. Children are the future of our nation and if they become bigger their risks of fatal illness increase, decreasing their life expectancies and jeopardizing our future generation.
Possible causes and explanations for unhealthy lifestyles
Alcohol
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) carried out a study on alcohol and how it links to obesity. In an analysis of data collected from more than 37,000 people who had never smoked, researchers found that BMI was associated with the number of drinks individuals consumed on the days they drank.
"In our study, men and women who drank the smallest quantity of alcohol - one drink per drinking day - with the greatest frequency - three to seven days per week - had the lowest BMI's, while those who infrequently consumed the greatest quantity had the highest BMIs." A report of the study by Dr. Breslow
Bibliography
