§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to increase awareness among the public regarding raised cholesterol levels as cardiovascular risk factors. [HL3683]
What plans they have to increase awareness among the public of the benefits of reducing cholesterol, regardless of its level. [HL3685]
§ Lord Warner:The Government have recently conducted a major consultation exercise on improving public health. The consultation covered a range of lifestyle issues, including diet and physical activity. Response to the consultation exercise will inform the development of a public health White Paper, due later this year.
High intakes of saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels. The Government provide practical guidance on how consumers can reduce the saturated fat in their diets through healthy eating advice. As part of a balanced diet, foods rich in saturated fat need to be replaced with unsaturated fats such as oil rich fish and foods containing oils such as sunflower, rapeseed and olive oils. The Department of Health also funds a range of non-governmental organisations to increase awareness of the benefits of eating a healthy diet and of active lifestyles.
The pharmaceutical industry also conducts its own campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of statins in moderating the risk of coronary heart disease.
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§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide clear diet and lifestyle information and advice to help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease. [HL3686]
§ Lord Warner:The Government have recently conducted a major consultation exercise on improving public health. The consultation covered a range of lifestyle issues that would help reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, including diet and physical activity. Responses to the consultation exercise will involve the development of a public health White Paper, expected later this year.
Smoking is the major preventable cause of cardiovascular disease. The Government have a comprehensive programme of awareness raising, advice and information to help individuals. This includes: the recent Department of Health funded British Heart Foundation "fatty cigarettes" campaign; new stark health warnings on tobacco products, including "Smoking clogs the arteries and causes heart attacks and strokes"; and nationwide NHS Stop Smoking Services.
Diet and lifestyle information is provided at present within the 5 A DAY programme, which includes a number of communications initiatives to inform consumers of the benefits of eating of at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day for heart health as well as other health benefits. Regarding physical activity, a campaign to increase exercise is being piloted this summer in the north-east of England. Led by Sport England, the campaign will encourage people to include more physical activity in their daily routine.
The Food Standards Agency, as part of its Nutrition Action Plan, supports a wide range of initiatives aimed at improving the diet and nutrition of the population. The Department of Health also funds a range of non-governmental organisations to increase awareness of the benefits of healthy diet and active lifestyles, 146WA including a campaign to make the public aware of the importance of knowing their blood pressure numbers.