Cllr Chris Whitehouse (Conservative, Newport West) has launched National Obesity Awareness Week and its campaign to turn obesity in the UK around.
Cllr Whitehouse is Director of the campaign and attended a launch of the event on Monday (13th January) in the Palace of Westminster. The councillor met with organisations supporting National Obesity Awareness Week, which has been organised on behalf of the National Obesity Forum.
The Awareness Week is promoting a ‘National New Year’s Resolution’ to turn obesity around, spanning from government and business action to encouraging achievable and sustainable lifestyle changes by individuals and families.
A reception for the new campaign at Number 10 Downing Street was hosted last night (Tuesday) by Samantha Cameron, wife of the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
The National Obesity Forum recently published a report suggesting that, without concerted action, levels of obesity in the UK could exceed the predictions of the 2007 Foresight Report that half the UK population could be obese by 2050 at an annual cost at £50 billion. The reports’ recommendations included primary healthcare professionals proactively talking to patients about weight management and greater knowledge of local support services for individuals who are either overweight or obese.
Speaking to Island Echo, Chris Whitehouse said:
“This is an extremely important campaign. For individuals, obesity has implications for their health. At a national level the scale of the problem has implications for the health of our society, infrastructure and economy.
“We are delighted at the level of interest in National Obesity Awareness Week, which has been embraced by organisations, associations and charities the length and breadth of the UK. There is a common understanding about the problem. We hope this week will be a watershed in getting to the solution both in terms of reducing obesity and supporting those who are already obese. It is right that we try to reduce and prevent obesity amongst younger generations, but we must not abandon the millions of adults needing support with their weight and weight loss.”
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Members of the public can find advice on healthy eating and drinking, nutrition, physical activity and weight loss on the National Obesity Awareness Week website (www.noaw2014.org.uk), where they can also make their healthy New Year’s Resolution.
Pictured: Cllr Whitehouse with Rob Flello MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adult and Childhood Obesity
