New obesity initiative targets 'multi-faceted' approach
management project adds to a growing consensus that the obesity
epidemic requires a multi-faceted response.
Entitled Y W8? (Why Weight?), the UK initiative, which is part of Telford and Wrekin Primary Care Trust's Let's Get Physical programme, aims to get people more active.
The idea is to encourage a positive focus on healthy eating and active living by acknowledging that the problem is not just clinical, but also cultural and psychological.
Overweight children and their families attend a weekly session for 12 weeks, involving fun activities to improve fitness, nutrition and self-esteem.
The project also provides parents with simple and practical advice to help their family make long-term lifestyle changes.
The food industry will undoubtedly welcome the initiative, which comes after the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued the first-ever national guideline addressing both the prevention and treatment of obesity in adults and children.
This guideline, which concerns England and Wales, contained wide-ranging recommendations, and emphasised that diet changes and exercise should be the first line of treatment for adults who are overweight or obese.
Both initiatives accept that the responsibility for solving the obesity problem cannot be laid solely at the door of the food industry.
Nonetheless, the industry has been under intense pressure to act. The CIAA, the European food and drink association, believes it has responded positively through product reformulation, education, labelling, research and responsible advertising and marketing.
"Tackling the obesity epidemic isn't just about treating people who are already obese, its also about helping people to avoid becoming overweight in the first place," said Dr Ken Snider, director of County Durham and Tees Valley Public Health Network.
"We recommend an integrated approach to the obesity problem action must be taken now to stop the epidemic and to ensure better health and wellbeing for us all and for our children."
The researchers behind Y W8? claim that the project's holistic approach has so far helped 24 families, and another 12 are currently taking part in Y W8? Over 80 per cent of the children who have taken part in the project have improved their Body Mass Index (BMI) and around 70 per cent of parents have also seen a loss of excess weight.
"By targeting children there are opportunities to change eating patterns and set up a life-long habit of exercise and physical activity," said Helen Pittson, a researcher at Coventry University's Applied Research Centre in Health and Lifestyle Interventions.
"The project tackles the root cause of obesity and works with children to improve their confidence and self esteem.
"The lack of activity in the UK is a key factor in the increase in obesity, and stepping up exercise levels is an essential way of helping to make families healthier. It is vital that people whose lives are affected by obesity are able to get the support that they need."
Indeed, the rise in childhood obesity is of serious concern. According to figures from the department of health, more than 8.5 per cent of 6 year olds and 15 per cent of 15 year olds in England are classified as obese.
On present trends half of all children in England in 2020 could be obese.
