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Editor’s letter: A tipping point for health
We’re in the thick of a healthy living revolution and are reaching a tipping point, where the positive steps forward are starting to outweigh the backward steps and the missed opportunities. Exciting times indeed
It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the UK health and activity sector, with a succession of major announcements being made which will impact the future direction of the industry, as well as setting priorities and opening up opportunities.
We had a high in December, with the publication of the government’s excellent Sporting Future strategy, which has set a new agenda for physical activity. In this issue, we talk to Sport England CEO Jennie Price about how we can get involved with, and support, this once-in-a-generation strategy (see p30).
The triumph of Sporting Future was followed by a major low on 26 February, when the government announced the publication of its eagerly-awaited Child Obesity Strategy – originally scheduled for December – had been delayed for the third time. It will not now be published until the summer, with no date announced.
These repeated delays are being interpreted by analysts as an indication of behind-the-scenes wrangling with the food lobby over a proposed sugar tax. Insiders say it’s looking less likely the strategy will include either a sugar tax or any reference to physical activity, as this is deemed to have been ‘taken care of’ by Sporting Future.
To be fair, Sporting Future is an epic piece of work and will get the sport and activity sector on track, with huge momentum behind it for a decade. However – given we’re aiming for joined-up government – not linking the Childhood Obesity Strategy with both a sugar tax and activity just doesn’t make any sense.
What’s the logic of creating the best sport and activity strategy we’ve ever had and then following it up with a childhood obesity strategy that doesn’t include exercise and still leaves children vulnerable to the predatory activity of soft drinks companies? Governments are responsible for sorting out things like this.
Nearly 30 per cent of kids are now obese, and experts agree immediate and urgent action is needed to tackle the problem at every level if we’re to avoid ruining the health of a generation.
If the government thinks it can bury this report by delaying publication, it will be surprised at the depth of feeling on this issue – campaigners are not going to let this drop, and rightly so.
The next high point came on 1 March when the government announced plans for the nation’s first tranche of Healthy New Towns – 10 new settlements will be built with health and wellbeing at their heart – and if the fiasco over the Childhood Obesity Strategy is a low point, then Sporting Future and the Healthy New Towns initiative are most definitely major highs.
Expressions of interest in the Healthy New Towns programme were invited last summer and attracted 114 applications. The plan is to create environments that make it easier for people to live healthy lifestyles, and where policymakers will be able to “explore and test creative solutions for 21st century healthcare challenges”. Around 76,000 homes will be built for 170,000 residents and designed to focus on preventative healthcare, while tackling obesity and dementia and improving community cohesion.
Public health officials have been saying for years that no big wins can be made in the fight for better health until people live in environments where they can develop good lifestyle habits. It’s exciting to see this coming to fruition at a national level.
We know 95 per cent of disease is lifestyle-related and health has to be earned every minute of every day. Creating healthy cities is the key to a healthy future for humankind – we need to live in environments geared to prevention and positive choices.
Liz Terry, Editorial director
@elizterry
