Healthy food ‘revolution’ established
Change4Life, a new coalition of companies and organisations dedicated to promoting healthy eating has been set up by health secretary Alan Johnson.
The Department of Health has persuaded over 12,400 organisations including Tesco, PepsiCo, Cancer Research, ITV, Asda, The Fitness Industry Association and Kelloggs to participate.
Mr Johnson believes the result will have a lasting impact on Britain.
“We are aiming to create a lifestyle revolution that will help families to eat well, move more and live longer,” he said.
“We can’t start a revolution on our own – we need everyone from grassroots community clubs to multinational companies to join us.”
He said getting grocers and supermarkets “on board” would make a real difference, pointing out that 36 million shop at Asda and Tesco each week.
According to a study by the Department of Health, 11.5 per cent of parents do not recognise that their child is overweight or obese. Families admit that they use snacks as rewards and as fillers for times of boredom.
Obesity is rising as parents underestimate the amount of unhealthy and convenience food they are buying for children and overestimate how much their children exercise.
The government fears 90 per cent of today’s children will be overweight and at risk from serious diseases by 2050 if no action is taken.
With the Change4Life coalition starting in January, local initiatives will support families with advice, healthy food promotions, recipes in supermarkets, walking campaigns, and cycling groups.
Mr Johnson added: “Finger wagging and lecturing won’t work, that’s why Change4Life is designed to be supportive and helpful.”
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