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CAMPAIGN NEEDED TO MAKE CHILDREN AWARE
OF HEALTHY FOODS’
A campaign should be launched to consult children and young people about the foods they are eating in a bid to combat the rampant obesity in the UK population.
The Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association (CPHVA) was commenting on the Food Standards Agency’s consultation document, Action Plan on the Promotion of Foods to Children.
The CPHVA’s supports the action plan: ‘However, we believe that there must be more involvement and consultation with children and young people. This needs to be done in a way that they will be positively encouraged to eat better foods. We know already that some children deliberately choose to eat less healthy foods.’
‘We believe that any campaign should also encourage children to become more active. We know that many children have a more sedentary lifestyle than previous generations and need more opportunities to participate in physical activity.’
The CPHVA recognises that there is an issue with the lone parents or both parents working and having less time to supervise their children’s eating habits. Conversely, children and young people are preparing their own meals - choosing to snack or use convenience meals because they are easier to prepare.
The CPHVA makes the following points:
The CPHVA’s Lead Professional Officer (Health Visiting), Obi Amadi said: ‘What children eat is not a ‘stand-alone’ issue and any concerted campaign advocating healthier eating must involve government, schools, parents, food companies and the advertising industry, otherwise the positive messages will be diluted.’
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