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.