Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives
A £32m strategy launched by Health Secretary, Alan Johnson and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls in January 2008 in order to tackle the dramatic rise in obesity in UK children. By 2020, the strategy aims to reduce the proportion of obese children in the UK to 2000 levels.
According to the website, “It will bring together employers, individuals and communities to promote children's health and healthy food; build physical activity into our lives; support health at work; and provide incentives more widely to promote health. It will also provide effective treatment and support when people become overweight or obese.”[1]
The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson comments, “physical activity, healthy eating, balanced marketing and promotion of food to children and clear and consistent food labelling are all key components in beating the obesity time bomb."[2]
Not a case of the government telling people what to do, but involving children, parents and families in a healthier lifestyle that involves everyone. The means of communicating what it takes to change society's view and participation in a healthy lifestyle is undertaken by the Change4Life campaign.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Department of Health website Government announces first steps in strategy to help people maintain healthy weight and live healthier lives Accessed 11th February 2009
- ↑ Department of Health website Government announces first steps in strategy to help people maintain healthy weight and live healthier lives Accessed 11th February 2009
- ↑ Department of Health website Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: Consumer Insight Summary Accessed 11th February 2009
- ↑ Every Child MattersObesity, Accessed 6th February 2009
