British parents admit responsibility lies with them to tackle childhood obesity

Nov 29 2004

British parents admit responsibility lies with them to tackle childhood obesity, a new report reveals.

More than 80% of parents say that they intend to be more accountable for their child's weight and four in five believe that measures set out in the Government's White Paper last week would go a long way to help them combat obesity in their children.

But consumer research commissioned by Norwich Union Healthcare, also reveals that more than half (55 per cent) of parents don't believe that the food industry will take on board the measures suggested by the Government and develop a clear food labelling system that the public will understand.

The Health of the Nation Index, a panel of 250 GPs from across the UK, reveals GP support for food labelling initiatives - more than half (56 per cent) believe traffic light labelling would have a significant long term influence on our overall health.

And 89% of GPs would support a ban on adverts for unhealthy foods during children's primetime television hours.

Dr Doug Wright, clinical development manager at Norwich Union Healthcare adds: "Parents and GPs are together sending out a clear message - we all need to be a lot more responsible for our own health as well as that of our children. Our social behaviour is having a damaging affect on our health and becoming an extra burden for doctors to deal with. Availability of easy to understand information about our food would help us control our diet"

Dr Ann Robinson, one of the GPs who took part in the Health of the Nation Index research says: "Tackling childhood obesity is a social problem really. School meals remain a nutritional disgrace in many areas while increased funding for sports hasn't filtered down to the majority of our children yet who still spend far too long slumped on sofas in front of the telly.

"We're failing our children by letting them get progressively fatter, less active and more prone to diseases like diabetes. Getting doctors to pick up the pieces is not a solution."

The findings are part of Norwich Union Healthcare's fourth 'Health of the Nation Index', which looks at GPs' views of the health service. The Index also reveals:

• Its not just children who are giving us cause for concern. It appears that the rise in cases of childhood obesity is contributing to the number of adults presenting with diabetes

• Doctors believe the twin danger of diabetes and obesity to be the most pressing concerns for those on the frontline of our healthcare system

• Eight in ten of the GP panel, interviewed by independent medical research specialist Dr Foster for Norwich Union Healthcare, have reported an increase over the past 12 months in the number of adult patients reporting with diabetes

• Conditions such as alcoholism and drug addiction, sexually transmitted diseases and stress have increasingly been seen in the GP surgery over the past year:

• 41% of doctors reported an increase in sexually transmitted diseases

• 78% of GPs have seen a rise in patients suffering from stress

• 54% of doctors have seen an increase in alcoholism and drug addiction

• GPs believe there should be a wider range of IVF options available to couples- six in ten doctors said they'd support the provision of free IVF treatment on the NHS

• More than half of doctors believe that 24-hour alcohol licensing will cause a long term increase in levels of alcoholism

• And nearly three quarters think it will not reduce the level of alcohol related violence

• If appropriate systems were in place, 64% of GPs would welcome the issuing of the contraceptive pill 'over the counter' to women.

Roger Taylor, research director at Dr Foster said: "GPs realise that obesity is too big a problem for doctors to deal with on their own. Parents, schools and government regulators all have an important role to play in fighting this epidemic."

Full details of the 'Health of the Nation Index' report can be accessed at www.healthofthenation.com