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24/07/2008
Health Secretary Leads Campaign To Tackle Obesity
The Health Secretary has called for a national movement to tackle "the growing problem of obesity" - and - on the back of the plea, funding is now in place to tackle the rising problem.
Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, Mars and Nestle have pledged more than £200 million to the cause.
Led by the Advertising Association, a consortium of firms has offered airtime and on-pack messages and cash.
Speaking at the Fabian Society at Westminister on Wednesday night, Alan Johnson said: "Obesity is the biggest health challenge we face. Over the last 60 years, the number of people who are severely overweight has risen steadily.
"There is a very real danger that today's children will be the first to live shorter lives than their parents and spend more of their years in poor health."
Mr Johnson has written to 220,000 community activists to ask them to join up with the campaign called Change4Life - which will launch in the autumn.
Mr Johnson added that "this national movement for change will enable every citizen in the country at every stage of their lives to get the encouragement and support they need to be healthy".
Advertising Agency Chief Executive Baroness Peta Buscombe said that "business is part of the solution to tackling obesity in the UK".
"Obesity is one of the biggest health facing Britain today.
"Through this coalition, we are all making a strong statement that we are committed to working with the government and the voluntary sector to transform the health of the nation and be a force for good," she said.
The aim of the package is to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyle by way of diet and exercise in the run up to the London 2012 Games.
According to the Department of Health (DH) two thirds of adults and a third of children are either overweight or obese in the UK.
Earlier this year, the government committed a £75 million budget to communicate the seriousness of obesity to those most at risk.
(DS)
Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, Mars and Nestle have pledged more than £200 million to the cause.
Led by the Advertising Association, a consortium of firms has offered airtime and on-pack messages and cash.
Speaking at the Fabian Society at Westminister on Wednesday night, Alan Johnson said: "Obesity is the biggest health challenge we face. Over the last 60 years, the number of people who are severely overweight has risen steadily.
"There is a very real danger that today's children will be the first to live shorter lives than their parents and spend more of their years in poor health."
Mr Johnson has written to 220,000 community activists to ask them to join up with the campaign called Change4Life - which will launch in the autumn.
Mr Johnson added that "this national movement for change will enable every citizen in the country at every stage of their lives to get the encouragement and support they need to be healthy".
Advertising Agency Chief Executive Baroness Peta Buscombe said that "business is part of the solution to tackling obesity in the UK".
"Obesity is one of the biggest health facing Britain today.
"Through this coalition, we are all making a strong statement that we are committed to working with the government and the voluntary sector to transform the health of the nation and be a force for good," she said.
The aim of the package is to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyle by way of diet and exercise in the run up to the London 2012 Games.
According to the Department of Health (DH) two thirds of adults and a third of children are either overweight or obese in the UK.
Earlier this year, the government committed a £75 million budget to communicate the seriousness of obesity to those most at risk.
(DS)
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