We all want to make a difference and help others live the best life they
can, we all want to do the right thing but
the attempt to solve the overweight and obesity issue by changing
behaviour has been going on for years, and as anyone can tell it is not
working, if anything it is only getting worse, so I would have to argue
that we need to take a step back and analyze what we are doing.
I absolutely agree about not wanting to do a disservice to our children
and families, and this is why we need to figure this out. I certainly
do not want to suggest we move our focus into a bunch of different
directions that we miss the boat, but I would recommend at least trying
to get on the boat by dealing with where the problem lies, which is
essentially with the food industry.
-We need to limit advertising of junk food to children under a certain
age,
-we could limit junk food advertising after a certain hour in the
evening,
-we could limit where billboard ads are allowed to be placed in our
community,
-we could limit the location and number of fast food restaurants in our
communities,
-we could make it mandatory that the info the food industry puts out
about their products is completely factual and not some kind of spin
that only confuses the public into thinking a product is a good choice,
-we need to ensure people know how to cook and prepare food, provide
skill building and support
-we need to raise awareness about the food industry and how it is
impacting the population.
These are just a few examples of things we could be advocating for in
our communities that all focus in one direction, and a direction that is
likely to impact the population by denormalizing convenience and fast
foods, while providing skills and awareness of the issue. We as a
profession can't let this situation continue and for us to continue to
put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the individual is the actual
disservice. The changes required for so many of us to have changed our
weight and increased diabetes rates so quickly are more likely to have
been caused by an environmental shift of some kind, not because we have
become overeating, lazy people. I haven't even touched on the problem of
the impact of poverty (and that poverty rates are also increasing) and
food choices and that diabetes is far more prevalent in low income
populations. So much needs to be done and it is imperative it get done,
all I am suggesting is we all start refocusing and find things we can do
that will start having some benefit now. This is a problem that faces
all of us.
Tanya Beattie, Public Health Promoter
-----Original Message-----
From: Health Promotion on the Internet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Linda H. Taylor
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:27 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CLICK4HP] Obesity Interventions
This IS individual and group behavioural problem among other reasons
and, if
we wait until the food supply is where we want it, we do a disservice to
children and the population at large(no pun intended.
Of course, we work on the best interventions we can practise and all at
the
same time. Let us not move focus in so many directions that we
completely
miss the boat on what we can do in the immediate.
Thanks,
Linda
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Beattie, Tanya" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Health Promotion on the Internet <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CLICK4HP] Obesity Interventions
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:48:11 -0500
At risk of entirely taking the blame off of parents and children, my
suggestion is to start focusing our "interventions" on the source of
this problem, our food supply. Only when our food supply is returned to
the way it is supposed to be, and the food industry is no longer
permitted to target our children (and us) with their processed and
convenience food ads, not even mentioning their tendency to not tell the
public the truth about their products, will we see an actual change in
the public's weight. This is not an individual behaviour problem, this
is a problem on a population level, our food supply has changed so
drastically over the past 40 or 50 years and now the symptom of this
problem is overweight and obesity. Let's all start focusing on dealing
with the source problem, that is my recommendation.
Tanya Beattie, Public Health Promoter
-----Original Message-----
From: Health Promotion on the Internet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Linda H. Taylor
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 9:35 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CLICK4HP] Obesity Interventions
At the risk of putting my tongue right in my cheek, ' brief intervention
'
would be to say hello to the youngster and then go work the bigger
intervention on the parents!!
Sorry, couldn't resist as I see so many children being parented with
food
and not consistent parenting and family habits...
Been there and still fighting it!
Linda RN BA
----Original Message Follows----
From: Nicholson Ellen <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Health Promotion on the Internet <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CLICK4HP] Obesity Interventions
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:29:51 -0000
Hello,
Just wondering if anyone knew of any research into the effectiveness of
"brief intervention" work to support weight loss, particularly with
children.
Many thanks,
Ellen Nicholson
Public Health Policy and Performance Officer
NHS Cambridgeshire
Ph 01223 884805
Email <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
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