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Dept of Health

Answer

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the projects being funded by his Department to tackle obesity. [144565] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department are leading on developing a Food and Health Action Plan, which will shape, co-ordinate and drive action to improve public health in England through better diet. Action on physical activity will be guided by an activity co- ordination team, jointly led by the Department of Health and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These two initiatives will be of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity and will provide the overall strategy. Projects funded by the Department which contribute to tackling obesity include: 79 practice based projects to increase breast feeding and the annual National Breastfeeding Awareness Week the reform of the Welfare Food Scheme the Food in Schools programme the communications strand of the Five-a-Day Programme resources by non-Governmental organisations, including the British Dietetic Association Weight Wise website and Weight Concern's toolkit on obesity and guidance for health professionals for family-based behavioural treatment for childhood obesity work with industry to address the sugar, fat and salt content of the diet local exercise action pilots the distribution of pedometers via general practitioner practices the National School Fruit Scheme. Primary care trusts allocate funding from their own devolved budgets to deliver national targets and milestones and to meet local priorities, including work relating to diet, physical activity and obesity.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

144565; 415 c1131W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Diets Finance Health education Nutrition Obesity Exercise

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk