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Obesity publications for schools

  • Last modified date:
    19 June 2008

Foresight - Tackling Obesities - Future Choices Project  

The Government asked Foresight in 2005 to carry out a review of obesity. Foresight reported its findings ‘Tackling Obesities: Future Choices’ Project  in October 2007.

Foresight is the UK Government’s science based futures think tank based in the Government Office for Science. The aim of the programme is to build on the scientific evidence base to provide challenging visions of the future to help inform government strategies, policies and priorities.

National Child Measurement Programme

This national programme involves all children in Reception and Year 6 having their height and weight recorded. The exercise will take place in schools every year.

NICE guidance

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published Guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children in December 2006.

The guidance makes a series of recommendations covering the NHS, local authorities and partners, early-years settings, schools, workplaces, self-help, commercial and community settings.

These recommendations are practical and very much in line with our cross-Government programme on obesity.

It is the first integrated clinical and public health guidance to be published by NICE and includes a focus on prevention in addition to clinical intervention, recognising that obesity is a complex problem.

The Department of Health strongly encourages professionals from NHS, local authorities and partners, early-years settings, schools, workplaces, self-help, commercial and community settings to read this guidance and build the recommendations into their local planning strategies.

The NICE guidance on obesity can be downloaded at

Obesity Bulletin

This bulletin updates on the Obesity PSA target and delivery strategy, and highlights good practice. The Obesity Bulletin will be published twice yearly as part of the government’s obesity programme.

Obesity guidance for healthy schools co-ordinators and their partners

The purpose of this guidance is to help Healthy Schools Coordinators and their partners provide support to primary and secondary schools in addressing the prevention issues around obesity. The guidance sets out approaches that work when tackling obesity and appropriate actions to consider.

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