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Action on diet and physical activity

  • Last modified date:
    16 August 2007

Present specific action on diet and physical activity.

  • Healthy Start - The Welfare Food Scheme is being replaced by a new scheme called Healthy Start.  Healthy Start will provide vouchers that can be exchanged for fresh fruit and vegetables as well as milk and infant formula.  It will also ensure that pregnant women and families participating in the scheme have the opportunity to access good quality information and advice about healthy family diet and about infant feeding as well as broader health issues.  More information is available on infant feeding and Healthy Start from the links below.
  • Signposting of food.
  • Further work with industry on salt, fat, sugar and portion sizes.
  • Action on food promotion across all forms - broadcast, non-broadcast, monitoring and evaluation and positive campaigns.
  • Training for health professionals - The Department of Health commissioned Dieticians in Obesity Management (DOM) to produce a directory for Primary Care Trusts by identifying and analysing existing training packages on obesity prevention and management. The National Obesity Forum, the Association for the Study of Obesity and the Intercollegiate Group on Nutrition (representing nine medical colleges) were also involved with this piece of work. The Obesity Training Directory is available via the link below.
  • The Healthy Schools programme will provide a supportive environment, including policies on healthy and nutritious food and physical activity.
  • Food in Schools provides guidance and resources to support schools in implementing a 'whole school approach' to healthy eating and drinking.
  • Review of school meals standards.
  • Encouraging children to be physically active - travelling to school, cycle training, school sport and PE, school sports partnerships and playing fields.
  • Funding to PCTs to strengthen primary care capacity and develop services to respond to patient need. Coordinated activity in each PCT for both adults and children with a range of appropriately trained staff - including health trainers, school nurses, health visitors, community and practice nurses, dieticians and exercise specialists.
  • Pedometers for schools.
  • Local Exercise Action Pilots.
  • Football and Health.
  • Sustainable Travel Towns.

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