UK - Change4Life – eat well, move more, live longer

Citation

(2009), "UK - Change4Life – eat well, move more, live longer", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 22 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2009.06222aab.009

UK - Change4Life – eat well, move more, live longer

Article Type: News and views From: International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Volume 22, Issue 1

Keywords: Health promotion, Ill health prevention, Public health

Change4Life is a new movement, supported by the Department of Health, which aims to improve children’s diets and levels of activity so reducing the threat to their future health and happiness. The goal is to help every family in England eat well, move more and live longer.

The challenge

Obesity is growing at an alarming rate and making a significant impact on individuals, our National Health Service and society as a whole. The Government Office for Science’s Foresight Report forecasts that by 2050, 60 per cent of men and 50 per cent of women could be obese.

There is a clear link between having too much fat in the body and preventable illnesses like diabetes, coronary heart disease, cancer and depression.

The ambition is for England to be the first major nation to reverse the rising tide of obesity and overweight in the population. The focus at the start will be on children.

Research

Key findings from the research has shown that:

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  While parents acknowledge childhood obesity is a problem they do not think it is their problem.

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  Parents underestimate the amount they and their children eat and overestimate the amount of activity the family does.

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  Parents do not make the connection between unhealthy weight status and long-term health problems.

NHS workforce role

Change4Life is calling on a range of national, regional and local partners – from within government, health care, the media and the commercial and voluntary sectors – to help. The movement is just beginning and the NHS workforce’s energy, knowledge and involvement will be needed to help make it work.

The organisation is already communicating with people who work directly with at-risk young families in healthcare and community settings. A diverse coalition of people has already pledged to be part of the movement and new people join every day. Change4Life will draw on all the good work already happening locally on tackling obesity and it will work with partners to develop and support new initiatives.

What is being rolled out is just the start of what will be a big, integrated communications plan, including a national advertising campaign.

For more information: www.dh.gov.uk