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Dept of Health

Answer

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to tackle obesity in children. [127314] Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government are committed to tackling the rising trend in childhood obesity and we have put in place cross-Government programmes of work to improve diet and nutrition and increase physical activity levels. Commitments for action on obesity, diet and physical activity are outlined in the NHS plan and the national service frameworks, particularly those outlining action on coronary heart disease and diabetes. The Department of Health is leading on developing a cross-Government food and health action plan. The plan will pull together all of the issues that influence what we eat and will address food production, manufacture and preparation, access to healthier food and providing information for consumers about healthy eating and nutrition. Action on physical activity will be guided across Government by an activity co-ordination team, jointly led by the Department of Health and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These initiatives will be of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity in children and adults. Current action on diet includes initiatives to increase breastfeeding (breastfed babies may be less likely to become obese later in life than formula fed babies); reform of the welfare foods programme to use the resources more effectively to ensure children in poverty have access to a healthy diet; a five-a-day programme which includes the National School Fruit Scheme; the Healthy School Programme; the Food in School programme and nutritional standards for school lunches. Work is also under way with the food industry to improve the overall balance of diet including salt, fat and sugar in food, working with the Food Standards Agency. Current action on physical activity includes the transformation over the next three years of physical education, school sport and club links and the building and refurbishment of physical education and sports facilities in schools. In addition, the Department of Health, together with Sport England and the Countryside Agency is leading on a local exercise action pilots (LEAP) programme, which includes children and young people as one of its target groups.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

127314; 410 c249W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Children Health services Health education Nutrition Obesity Sports Exercise

Link

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