§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have data on the percentages of young children who are malnourished or obese in relation to socio-economic status. [HL633]
§ Lord WarnerFigures for the percentage of children in England who are obese, as defined by the 95th body mass index (BMI) percentiles of the United Kingdom reference curves, in relation to socio-economic status are available based on data from the Health Survey for England and are shown in the table. No figures are available for the percentage of young children who are malnourished.
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Prevalence of child obesity1 among English children aged 2–15 by age, sex and National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification (NS-SEC) category of household reference person Aged 2–15 with a valid BMI measurement 2002 NS-SEC Boys Age Girls Age Total 2–5℅ 6–10℅ 11–15℅ 2–5℅ 6–10℅ 11–15℅ 2–5℅ Lower supervisory and technical occupations 9.7 19.7 19.7 10.8 18.3 17.7 17.0 Semi-routine occupations 18.1 18.2 20.4 12.9 24.5 21.2 19.6 Bases (unweighted) 751 1,224 1,172 776 1,099 1,154 6,176 1 equal to or greater than 95th BMI centile 1. Cole TJ, Freeman JV, and Preece MA. Body mass index reference curves for the UK, 1990. Arch. Dis. Child 1995; 73: 252–29.
§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What support Ministers intend to give to Obesity Awareness Week during the week commencing 22 March 2004; and [HL694]
What support they are offering to the TOAST House project being promoted by the Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust. [HL698]
§ Lord WarnerThe Government have supported the work of the Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust (TOAST) over two years through the Department of Health's Section 64 Grant Scheme. The National Obesity Awareness Week is part of TOAST's healthy living events outlined in their action plan. Funding ceased in March 2003 and TOAST has submitted an application for further funding under the Section 64 Grant Scheme. This application is under consideration.
§ Earl Howeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they are taking to ensure that practical and appropriate advice about the full range of weight management and reduction options is given by doctors to those who are overweight or obese. [HL696]
§ Lord WarnerThe Priorities and Planning Framework for 20032–06 includes targets for reducing coronary heart disease. One of these targets requires practice-based registers (for patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes) and systematic treatment regimes, including appropriate advice on diet, physical activity and smoking. This also covers the majority of patients at high risk of coronary heart disease, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes and a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.
Under the new General Medical Services contract, from April 2004, practices will be required to offer relevant health promotion advice to their patients, as appropriate, together with any treatment that may be necessary. The new contract will also allow practice staff more time to deliver high quality primary care, including more preventative interventions, and to improve the health of the practice populations. Under the Quality and Outcomes Framework, practices are incentivised to provide ongoing management of patients with diabetes, including those whose notes record BMI in the previous 15 months.
114WAThe National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), collaborating with the Health Development Agency, have been tasked by the Department of Health to develop guidance on the prevention and management of obesity. NICE guidance is already available on prescribing drugs (Orlistat and Sibutramine), treatment with which should be supported by specific advice, support and counselling on diet, physical activity and behavioural strategy, and surgery.
New action by the Department of Health will develop more cohesive support for health professionals to develop capacity for prevention and management of obesity in primary care. Working with the primary care sector we are looking to develop practical ways of enhancing evidence-based prevention in primary care.