§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were diagnosed in(a) England, (b) each region and (c) each LEA as being clinically obese in each of the last 10 years. [121063]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonFigures for the numbers of children diagnosed as being clinically obese are not available. Obesity is normally measured in terms of body mass index (BMI). There are emerging international standards to define childhood obesity but they were developed among a population that was not representative of English children. An alternative method monitors the percentage of children who are above the 95th percentile of the 1990 BMI reference data. According to this method, five per cent. of children in 1990 had a BMI above this level and were thus classified as obese.
Increases over 5 per cent. in the proportion of children who exceed the reference 95th percentile over time indicate an upward trend in the prevalence of obesity. When applied to Health Survey for England data, this method suggests that between 1996 and 2001 the percentage of children (aged 6–15) with a BMI above this threshold (representing the prevalence of obesity) increased by 3.5 percentage points, from 12.1 per cent. in 1996 to 15.6 per cent. in 2001.
There is no data available by region, using this definition. Regional comparisons of the percentage of children in BMI quintiles were published in "The Health Survey for England—The Health of Young People 95–97", table 3.17, a copy of which is available in the Library. No information is available by local education authority.
§ Mrs. CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of(a) men and (b) women were classified as (i) obese and (ii) overweight in each year since 1980. [121064]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonFigures for all years since 1980 are not available but the table shows estimates from a population survey, the Health Survey for England, from 1991, when the survey began. Although earlier surveys have information on overweight and obesity comparisons are difficult because of different survey methodologies. The Health Survey covers ages 16 and over.
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Body mass index(BMI), 1991–2001—Aged 16 and over—BMI (kg/m2) Obese (%) Overweight (%) Men 1991–921 12.0 42.0 1993 13.2 44.4 1994 13.8 44.3 1995 15.3 44.0 1996 16.4 44.6 1997 17.0 45.2 1998 17.3 45.5 1999 18.7 43.9 2000 21.0 44.5 2001 21.0 46.6 Women 1991–921 16.0 29.0 1993 16.4 32.2 1994 17.3 31.4 1995 17.5 32.9
Body mass index(BMI), 1991–2001—Aged 16 and over—BMI (kg/m2) Obese (%) Overweight (%) 1996 18.4 33.6 1997 19.7 32.8 1998 21.2 32.1 1999 21.1 32.8 2000 21.4 33.8 2001 23.5 32.9 1The samples sizes in 1991 and 1992 were smaller than in subsequent years and for reporting purposes the estimates from both years were combined.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government has to review the role of the food industry in reducing obesity levels. [118964]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe effective prevention and management of obesity requires an integrated, cross-government approach, working with a range of partners on programmes to improve diet and increase physical activity levels. The Department of Health, together with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and other Government departments, are working with the food industry—producers, manufacturers, retailers and caterers—to improve the overall balance of diet, including salt, fat and sugar in food.
The Department of Health is leading the development of a cross-Government food and health action plan. Although the plan will be Government led, it will aim to include actions bya range of organisations including the food industry. The plan will address food production, manufacture and preparation, access to healthier food and provision of information for consumers about healthy eating and nutrition. The plan will address healthy eating at all stages of life and will build on existing work to improve diet and nutrition.
The FSA has commissioned a review on the evidence available on the effect of promotional activities on the eating behaviour of children. This will critically appraise the available evidence and draw conclusions on their effect relative to other influences on eating behaviour.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice the Government issues to healthcare professionals regarding the health risks of obesity. [118966]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonAction to address obesity in England is being taken forward through the national service frameworks (NSFs) for coronary heart disease, older people and diabetes. The forthcoming NSF for children will address the health and social care needs of all children and will include the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity.
The Health Development Agency (HDA) is setting out the evidence base for effective interventions on the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity, and the maintenance of weight loss. The HDA is also undertaking "evidence into practice" work following their review of effective interventions.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued guidance on the anti-obesity drugs orlistat and sibutramine, treatment with which should be accompanied by specific concomitant advice, support and counselling on diet, physical activity and 545W behavioural strategies. In July 2002, NICE also issued guidance which confirmed that surgical intervention was an appropriate treatment in some cases for the treatment of morbid obesity, when other options have proved unsuccessful. There is also a national quality assurance framework for exercise referral systems to promote physical activity.
The Department of Health has also supported the development of guidance for professionals in primary care on weight management in children and adolescents, and contributed through the Section 64 Grant Scheme to the funding of the charity Weight Concern to develop a "toolkit" on obesity, for professionals to use with patients in a group setting.