Tackling Obesity in England - National Audit Office

TACKLING OBESITY IN ENGLANDInitiatives targeting children and youngpeopleiv. Equipping young people for a healthylifestyle4.32 For most people, the values, perceptions and patterns ofbehaviour that are formed during childhood andadolescence are an important influence on their lifestylein adulthood. Moreover, levels of fatness seem to beincreasing amongst schoolchildren 34 , and the NationalDiet and Nutrition Survey, published in 2000 18 , givescause for concern about children's diets, nutritionalstatus and physical activity levels. Young peopletherefore need an understanding both of the risks thatobesity poses to health, and of the ways to maintain ahealthy weight.4.33 The Department for Education and Employment is amajor player at central Government level inencouraging the education of young people in thebenefits of a healthy lifestyle, including the benefits ofphysical activity and a healthy diet. The Department alsohas a role in ensuring that a healthy environment isprovided in schools: in particular that schools offernutritious lunches, such as by providing fruit andvegetables and avoiding an excess of foods with a highfat, salt or sugar content; and that they provideopportunities and encouragement for physical activity.These aims fall within the Department's generalobjective to ensure that all young people reach 16 withthe skills, attitudes and personal qualities that will givethem a secure foundation for lifelong learning, work andcitizenship in a rapidly changing world. They are alsocongruent with the Department of Health's objective toencourage people to live healthily.4.34 Figure 22 illustrates where the policy objectives of thetwo departments intersect in relation to diet andphysical activity, and shows which type of cross-cuttingintervention they have used.4.35 The Department of Health and the Department forEducation and Employment consult one another to worktowards achieving these mutual objectives. Thisinvolves:nnnnhigh level consultation on policy issues, such aswhen a White Paper or draft legislation is prepared;ongoing liaison at a working level over relevantaspects of the school curriculum, in particularbefore any changes are made;staff secondments or loans to raise mutual awarenessand encourage collaboration. This includes the longstandingarrangement in which the Department ofHealth has provided a member of medical staff tocontribute to policy and services, and advise theDepartment for Education and Employment onaspects of the education system where a knowledgeof health issues and policy is needed; anddetailed liaison, including through setting up jointteams and working groups, to consider specificissues. For example, the recent development ofnutrition standards for school meals necessitatedalmost daily informal contact at a working level overa period of several months.4.36 The Department for Education and Employment told usthat there were four main areas of the curriculum wherechildren have the opportunity to acquire the knowledgeand skills that will help them to live healthily: personal,social and health education; physical education;nutrition; and food technology. We examine physicaleducation, nutrition and food technology at paragraphs4.46-4.64 overleaf.22 The links between health and educationDepartment of HealthTo improve healthand reduce healthinequalitiesEnsuring that education is providedon health, diet and physical activityand that the school environmentpromotes healthy lifestylesDepartment forEducation and EmploymentTo ensure young peoplereach 16 with the skills,attitudes and personalqualities to give them asecure foundation forlifelong learning, workand citizenshipHealth DevelopmentAgencyTo provide evidence andguidance on what worksto improve healthn Regular consultation on aspects of the school curriculumn Sharing information to increase mutual awarenessn Joint teams on specific issues (eg school travel and school meals)n Seconding staff to encourage collaborationn Joint publications and guidancen Inter-Ministerial Grouppart fourSource:National Audit Office39