45 3 Projects at National Level

This chapter describes what health promotion actions have currently been put in place by countries in Europe that contributed to this report at a national level. The information was collected from the following sources:

A report published by EuroHealthNet in 2006 (The contribution of Health

Promotion to address obesity in the European Union) [2]. This document

reported on general health promotion measures but did not study whether or not lower socio-economic groups were included as special risk groups. Results were therefore reviewed for relevant data.

A report published by the World Health organisation (WHO) in 2007 (Nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of obesity. Policy

developments in the WHO European Region) [53]. This document contains

information on national policy developments and examples of implemented and ongoing programmes at the national and local levels in 48 countries of the WHO European Region. Again, the data described was studied for examples that specifically target disadvantaged communities. EuroHealthNet members were asked to send in information on relevant developments since 2006.

The obesity prevention measures within countries are subdivided over three paragraphs:

National Strategy:

This section includes descriptions of national action

plans, implemented health policies that are relevant to this report, and other national legislative strategies (e.g. also the start of a obesity council)

National Support:

This paragraph describes national support

organisations such as funds or coordination groups that provide support, guidance and coordination to smaller initiatives. Many of the local projects described in the next chapter will refer to these national support structures.

National Programmes:

At last, programmes and campaigns that run at

national level and aim to counteract obesity specifically among disadvantaged groups, or define such communities as a special risk group, are described.

This chapter does not aim to provide a full picture of all running health promotion measures within countries, but it is a starting point describing the situation of obesity in relation to health equity at national level. Please note that only those countries are described which contributed to this report. If further information regarding other European countries is requested, please consult the reports published by EuroHealthNet [2] and WHO [53].

46 Countries

Austria... 47

Belgium... 47

Healthy Inspiration School in good condition

Bulgaria... 53

Croatia... 54

Czech Republic... 56

Denmark... 57

The Municipalities plan against Obesity (2005 – 2008)

Weight loss and weight maintenance among obese adults (2007 – 2010) 6 a day

Diet in a nutshell – a taste for life Whole Grain Campaign

Finland... 65

France... 66

Germany... 67

Tigerkids - Kindergarten aktiv.

Greece... 70

GENESIS Study PROGRESS Study

Hungary... 73

Ireland... 74

Healthy Food for All

The Netherlands... 78

SchoolGruiten

Norway... 81

Portugal... 82

Projecto Obesidade Zero (POZ)

Romania... 83

Increasing access to quality primary prevention services for children and adolescents in Romania Slovakia... 85 Slovenia... 86 Spain... 88 Sweden... 88 Switzerland... 89 United Kingdom... 91 England

Healthy Start Scheme Change4Life

Scotland

SGF Healthy Living Programme

Wales

47

Austria

National Strategy:

In Austria, there is no overall National Obesity Strategy

However, the Austrian Strategy for Sustainable Development adopted in 2002 (Ministry of Agriculture) can be considered as impacting on obesity [₅₄]. In this report, the importance of targeting different socio-economic groups is being recognised.

National Support:

The Austrian organisation Fund for a Healthy Austria (Fonds

Gesundes Österreich – FGÖ) is a health promoting organisation, founded in 1998, and receives subsidiaries of the ‘Gesundheit Österreich GmbH’ (Health Austria Ltd). The Fund’s major task is to support practical and research projects, structural development, continuous education, networking and information campaigns in the field of health promotion.

Two out of its six key priorities are Exercise and Nutrition. All recent Work programmes have integrated these two key priorities and FGÖ gives financial support to many projects concerning the promotion of healthy nutrition and/or physical activity. FGÖ has been conducting activities to enhance health awareness in these fields through, on the one hand, public information and education campaigns and, on the other hand, project funding. A list of all projects can be found on the FGÖ website (http://www.fgoe.org), and more information about the Fund and the national programmes it is supporting are listed in the EuroHealthNet and WHO reports.

Thus far, more than € 25 million has gone into supporting 542 projects (approved/recommended up to now). The FGÖ support only goes to projects involving total funding of more than €10,000.

National Programmes:

At national level, there are no campaigns running that

aim to counteract obesity specifically among lower socio-economic groups.

Belgium

(Extra information was provided by the Flemish Institute of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (VIGeZ) - EuroHealthNet member)

National Strategy:

The National Plan for Nutrition and Health 2005 – 2010

(Plan National Nutrition et Santé) was officially launched in March 2005 [55]. The

plan emphasizes the need to create an environment that stimulates healthy eating habits and physical activity by improving education on food and nutrition and involving a number of stakeholders. The National plan recommends measures such as:

Leading actions aimed at encouraging everyone but above youngsters to give more importance to physical exercise and to healthy eating habits, Organising targeted actions focused on specific groups such as young children, aged people, pregnant woman, teenagers, etc.

Encouraging the private sector to engage more in reaching the objectives of the National Plan Nutrition and Health,

Tackling prevention and undernutrition treatment,

Evaluating eating habits and Belgian people’s lifestyles, through eating surveys,

Stimulating scientific research devoted to eating behaviours.

The French Community: In November 2005, a plan to stimulate healthy eating and physical activity for children was approved and launched (Manger Bouger). The main goal of the French Community Plan is to reduce factors leading to cardiovascular diseases, but it also aims to half the growing incidence of obesity in young people by encouraging them to eat healthier and be more physically active. The message must be comprehensible for every environment affecting children from 0 to 18 years of age: day care, school, outside school and family. It is based on various communication tools and has been established in accordance with the National Nutrition and Health Plan.

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In document Focusing on obesity through a health equity lens (Page 47-50)