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GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES HEALTHY LIVING INITIATIVE
THE Public
Health Minister Caroline Flint on Thursday 15 March 2007 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
healthy 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 to help parents improve
their children's' 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,
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 healthy 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 children's' 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." |
EVERTON FORMER PLAYERS SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR BARCELONA CLASH
THE Everton
Former Players squad to face FC Barcelona former players on the 28
March 2007 at Goodison Park has been announced.
Evertonians will take great delight in seeing former favourites
Peter Reid and Paul Bracewell together in a midfield, which will
also have Trevor Steven Meanwhile the prospect of seeing Adrian
Heath pair up with Graeme Sharp again will be equally appealing to
Blues fans.
The full squad is:-
Bobby Mimms
Graham Stuart
Ian Snodin
Alan Harper
Paul Bracewell
Trevor Steven
Peter Reid
Neil Pointon
Graeme Sharp
Adrian Heath
Mike Newell
Paul Wilkinson
Kevin Richardson
Dave Watson (Captain)
Howard Kendall (Manager)
Dave Watson who will
captain the side on the night said:- "It will be terrific to
get all these great lads together again and to lead them out in the
Royal Blue of Everton for one more time. We are all looking forward
to it."
The match which is to be held at Goodison Park on Wednesday 28 March
2007 will kick off at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at £10 for
adults and £5 for OAP's and U16's from the box office at Goodison by
calling 0870 442 1878 or
online.
The match at Goodison is the crescendo of "Heritage Week"
which is being staged by the Everton Collection Charitable Trust.
There is also an Exhibition at Goodison on Sunday 25 March 2007 when
Everton fans get to see a taster of what will become the Everton
Collection (free admission).
RUN
SOUTHPORT RACES TO HELP FUND CURE
THE race is on
to find local people who are prepared to run in this year’s
Southport April Fools races and raise funds for a medical research
charity, as it continues to search for a cure for muscle wasting
diseases.
As part of its 2007
‘Every Second Counts’ appeal, the Muscular Dystrophy
Campaign is asking readers to enter the Southport races this year
and to get sponsored for running. The races were previously known as
the Good Friday races but have moved to 1 April 2006 this year.
In return, everyone who runs for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
will be able to claim some great
sportswear rewards for the sponsorship they raise and will also be
sent an ‘Every Second Counts’ running vest to show
their support for the charity.
Says Charles Horton,
Regional Fundraising Manager for the charity:- “We need as
many people as possible to enter the Southport April Fools races
raise sponsorship if we are going to beat this disease. Even if you
have already entered, but would like to run for charity, we would
like to hear from you. It’s a great way to help others and help
yourself to keep fit. People die from the effects of muscular
dystrophy every week in the UK. Every second counts if we are to
give people with muscular dystrophy a chance in the future.”
The Southport races, which are four miles in length over a traffic
free course in Victoria Park, take place on Sunday 1 April 2007,
starting at 10.30am for ladies and 11.15am for men. To run in the
race to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, call their
Regional Office on 01244 403012 or
email.
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