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How are the kids?

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 30 January 2009

Change4Life launches largest ever children's health survey

The biggest health survey of children's health - 'How Are the Kids?' - launches today. Millions of families in England will be asked to give information about their eating and activity habits - in return they will receive a specially tailored plan to help them eat well, move more and live longer.

It's a well known fact that, without intervention, nine out of ten children could be overweight or obese by 2050 if current trends continue. At present, almost a third of 10 and 11-year-olds are overweight or obese.

Around 11 million surveys will be sent out from 2 February, which will include:

* 7.5 million will be door dropped to families with young children across England or through inserts in national press and magazines;
* at least 2 million will be distributed via the School Fruit and Veg Scheme;
* 350,000 through the Healthy Start mailings - mums will get them with their monthly vouchers;
* doctors' surgeries will receive around 120,000;
* around 20,000 will be mailed to people who have already registered via the Change4Life website;
* families will also be able to complete the survey online.

Mums and dads will be asked to complete the quick survey - and in return they will get an action plan, tailored specifically for their family, full of hints and tips on how to get their children to be more healthy. The plan will include healthy diet and activity tips, as well as a card game for children featuring characters from the popular Change4Life TV ad.

New Change4Life TV ads will air from Saturday 31 January to publicise the survey. This is the latest initiative in the Change4Life campaign, which was launched on 3 January. The aim of the campaign is to kickstart a lifestyle revolution for every family in order to halt the rising tide of obesity.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said:

"Families who take part in this survey and tell us about their eating and exercise habits will be sent a unique health plan by our experts to help them eat well, move more and live longer.

"This is part of the Change4Life campaign which is supporting and informing families about healthier choices for their children - our future generations. Visit http://www.nhs.uk/change4life to take part."

Surveys will also be distributed in towns around the UK where there will be games for parents to play with their children and healthy juice bars.

Notes to Editors

1. Anyone who wants to complete a survey and get involved with Change4Life should visit http://www.nhs.uk/change4life

2. Change4Life is an ambitious new advertising campaign that will help mums, dads and families eat well, move more and live longer launched on 3 January 2009. The aim of the campaign is to kickstart a lifestyle revolution for every family in order to halt the rising tide of obesity.

Under the banner Change4Life, the Government is galvanising support from everyone in the country from grass roots organisations to leading supermarkets and charities.

The campaign will help families to understand the harm that fat can cause to their children's health. It warns that a bad diet and inactive lifestyle can lead to cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

3. Healthy Weight, Health Lives: A Cross-Government Strategy for England can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_082378

4. The surveys will also be conducted through face to face marketing at key towns across the country. Towns that will be visited include: Newcastle, Birmingham, Wolstanton, Tunstall, Cannock, Birmingham, Beckton, Derby, Bristol, Gloucester, Margate, Exeter, Plymouth and Leicester.