The Welsh Health Survey

The new Welsh Health survey data makes for worrying reading. There has been a rise in the number of children classified as overweight or obese.

These soaring rates in obesity over recent years has lead to an increase in childhood type II diabetes and will lead to more future cases of heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers.

If current trends continue, the cost to the health service is likely to increase unless measures are put in place to halt this growing problem.

We need to prevent children from becoming overweight in the first place, and parents, schools, health professionals, the media, food manufacturers and the government all have an important role to play in this.

The other item which stood out from the data was the increase in smoking amongst men in Wales.

Although smoke-free legislation is making a huge difference to the health of patients, these figures reveal the serious reality of Wales’ smoking problem.

The damage caused by smoking is cumulative. Most people know that smoking causes heart disease and stroke. But they may not realise that if men smoke heavily during their teens and twenties, they risk developing erectile dysfunction in their thirties and forties.

There is no doubt that giving up smoking can be extremely difficult – like any addiction, kicking the habit is no easy task. When smokers decide to quit they are often advised to set a date, bin the cigarettes and then just do it. Support from a doctor or health professional during this time can be invaluable, and I would advise anyone thinking about quitting to contact their GP for advice and support.

What do you make of the data?

Another Government Strategy Launched…..

I have been reading the physical activity action plan which has been launched this week, with the aim to achieve an active, healthy and inclusive Wales.

We support the call for increased participation in physical activity in Wales and in particular it becoming part of a normal everyday routine.

I hope that the strategy will be successful, but the responsibility ultimately lies with the individual. We all need to be prepared to make small changes to our daily routine which can make a real difference.

Wales is a beautiful country, and what better way to appreciate our surroundings than swap the car journey to work, for walking or cycling. And I’m not just talking about adults. Children, where possible, should be encouraged to walk or cycle to school. The number of children travelling to school by car has doubled over the last 20 years - no wonder childhood obesity is a growing epidemic. We need to teach children from a young age about the advantages of a healthy lifestyle, and introducing exercise into a daily regime will help to protect them from chronic conditions later on in life.

The inequalities inherent within Wales have a profound influence on the health of children. I would like to see more investment in safe areas for children to play and exercise, as well as further investment for sport in schools. Deprivation limits access to safe play areas and safe physical activities.

In deprived areas many parents are too scared to let their children go outside because the roads are so busy, and in many communities there are the additional dangers of unsafe environments where play areas are littered with discarded syringes and broken glass. Until we address these fundamental barriers – nothing will change.

As doctors we have a vital role to play as well - in prescribing exercise for those who are overweight or obese.

Physical inactivity has so many different causes that it is impossible to be tackled by guidelines alone. I’ll be very keen to read the data that will be produced through the Welsh Health Survey and Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study to see if the strategy has actually worked.

What are your thoughts on the strategy?

Chief Medical Officer for Wales publishes Annual Report

Wales’ Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Jewell, has today published his annual report which looks at different methods of prevention to ensure the long-term health of the nation, including immunisation, screening and education.

He warns that preventing disease and illness is the key to a healthy future generation. I welcome this report and agree with the recommendations Dr Jewell sets out for improving the health of the nation. It is vital to focus on health promotion and illness prevention as well as illness itself.

Dr Jewell says that overall health in Wales is continuing to improve, but continued action is still needed to address issues like obesity, binge-drinking and smoking. These three issues are important for BMA Cymru members, and for years we have been trying to improve the health of the nation by campaigning for smoking bans, minimum pricing for alcohol and preventing childhood obesity.

The effect of the smoking ban is noted by Dr Jewell in the report. Findings from research commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government show clear evidence of reduced exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, particularly in pubs, clubs, bars and at work. This means that the legislation has achieved its main objective to reduce environmental tobacco smoke. It is encouraging that the studies found no evidence of any shift of smoking to the home, or of increased exposure to children.

BMA Cymru would like to see further action taken by the Government in the long run, including banning advertising and displaying cigarettes at point of sale; as well as banning cigarette vending machines and scrapping the sale of ten packs.

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic, and the soaring rates have lead to an increase in childhood type II diabetes and will lead to more future cases of heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers. Teaching children at an early age about the advantages of a healthy lifestyle and introducing exercise into a daily routine may prevent them from chronic health conditions later on in life.

A sensible approach to alcohol is always important, but it is particularly pertinent at this time of the year. We want the public to be aware of the risks associated with drinking, and would like to see advertising for alcohol banned as well as minimum price levels for the sale of alcohol.

Health Minister Edwina Hart has welcomed the report and the recommendation that more focus should be placed on preventative measures. I look forward to seeing what action the Welsh Assembly Government takes. Let me know what you make of the report.

Less talk, more action!

First Minister Rhodri Morgan, has voiced his fears for a “toxic generation” of children who play computer games and eat junk food.

I share his concerns, and fear that we are in danger of raising a generation of children burdened with long term chronic health conditions. Soaring rates in obesity have lead to an increase in childhood type II diabetes and will lead to more future cases of heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers.

Small changes to a daily routine can make a real difference. Just getting children into the habit of walking to school has environmental benefits, and helps with the fight against childhood obesity. Teaching children at an early age about the advantages of a healthy lifestyle often means that they will continue this into adulthood. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it is vital that we act without further delay.

In order to achieve a real improvement for the future health of our children; parents, schools, health professionals, the media, food manufacturers, and the government all have an important role to play.

We need real action from the Welsh Assembly Government on what is going to be done to reverse this growing epidemic. What do you think?

Schools in Wales have a key part to play in our obesity battle

This campaign to get schools more involved in improving our health and fitness and in turn, hopefully helping to tackle obesity, really is a great idea.

Currently schools in Wales are perhaps something of an on under-used resource, with many closing their doors after 4pm on school days, not to mention being out of bounds on weekends and during school holidays.

One of the key factors stopping people from using leisure centres, particularly in more rural areas, is the cost and being able to access them. So it makes sense to utilise schools which are on the doorstep for most families. And with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and the Sports Council for Wales, costs to the public are substantially reduced, or entry fees wavered completely.

This seems like a win-win situation to me. You have schools becoming the focal point of community activity, at the heart of where people live, being used in the evening and at weekends, meaning they’re less likely to be the targets of vandals and break-ins. As the same time they are providing a place for young people to go, occupying their time, so they don’t have to hang around on street corners. Plus, there is the added benefit that it encourages us all to get out of the house and get active. And this has never been more necessary, with more and more statistics these days to remind us how we’re piling on the pounds.

I really hope more schools in Wales now take the opportunity to open for longer and help to play a part in stemming what is fast becoming an obesity epidemic in the UK.

Childhood obesity – prevention is better than cure

I fully support this article by Sustrans Cymru.

To maintain good health and keep obesity at bay and other serious illnesses in later life, it is recommended that children have at least 60 minutes of moderate exercise every day, such as brisk walking, running, or cycling. But, research suggests that currently only around half of seven to 11 year olds manage to do this. So it's essential to get kids moving. And the journey to and from school is the perfect place to start. We know that, particularly in deprived areas, many parents are scared to let their children go outside because the roads are so busy. That is why we are in favour of 20mph zones in urban areas, and specifically around schools in Wales.

The number of children travelling to school by car has doubled over the last 20 years. Getting youngsters into the habit of cycling to school has obvious environmental benefits, and of course, helps with the fight against childhood obesity too. That’s why the Bike It project being trialled in three areas in Wales is such a good idea. It helps to establish cycling to school as part of a routine, not a one-off occurrence.

There is no precise figure of how much obesity costs the NHS, but every year the health service spends at least £2 billion on treating ill health caused by poor diet. Estimates indicate that, if current trends continue, at least one fifth of boys and one third of girls will be obese by 2020. Therefore the cost to the health service is likely to increase unless measures are put in place to halt this growing problem.

We need now, more than ever, to be focussing on preventing childhood obesity. We know that parents want to do the best for their children and getting them out of the car more is certainly one way of doing so.

Clear link between increased rates of diabetes and obesity

A new report into increased rates of diabetes illustrates a clear link between type 2diabetes and obesity. The rate at which the condition has gone up is really quite staggering, 74% over a six year period.

As well as the link between more people being over-weight and more people being diagnosed with the condition, another reason for the leap in the number of cases can be put down to the fact that GPs are more alert to the symptoms, hence detecting more cases.

If you do have diabetes AND are overweight, it should really be taken as a warning to start leading more of a healthy lifestyle, combining exercise with sensible eating. The Welsh Assembly Government is trying to help us with this, through the work of Health Challenge Wales, which is running such initiatives as free swimming (Children aged 16 and under can use public swimming pools at certain times during holiday periods, free of charge) community food co-ops (fresh fruit and vegetables direct from a local supplier, so you pay wholesale prices and support your local community), and Lets Walk Cymru (There are a number of opportunities for you to join groups who participate in regular walks).

Wales' Chief Medical Officer's latest annual report, released late last year also highlighted some very positive plus points, not least the fact that people here are living longer and that deaths from heart disease and strokes are continuing to fall. So there is some indication of change for the better in the health of people in Wales, yet we’ve still some way to go, as the rise in diabetes cases shows.

One way to make further in-roads into tackling obesity, particularly amongst children, would be for the WAG, to work with Local Authorities in Wales and organisations like BMA Cymru and Sustrans, to put together a major joint strategy, identifying all major walk to school routes and roll-out a programme of 20mph zones across all parts of Wales.

We favour 20mph speed limits in urban areas, and particularly around schools, as a way of encouraging more of us to walk and cycle. Hopefully, this kind of initiative, if implemented, would help the vast majority of us to get more fit and active as part of our daily routine.

Welsh children taught how to “mend” their eating habits

The Welsh Assembly Government has come up with what seems like Wales’ answer to America-style fat boot camps.

Under the Mend (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do It!) Scheme, children aged 7-13, considered to be overweight can access diet and exercise courses. Official statistics seem to suggest this is a necessary step to take, with youngsters here having some of the highest body mass indexes in the world.

With any scheme like this it is important the whole family gets involved and supports it, as it’s often the parents who decide their child’s diet and eating habits. There wouldn’t be much point the child learning about healthy eating and exercise, if a plate of burger and chips is then placed in front of them. Mums and dads also need to be able to recognise when their child is at the stage of being classed as overweight instead of just putting it down to ”puppy fat”. With all the family being on board with an initiative like this, the results will hopefully last for longer than the duration of the 10 week course.

Banning junk food from our schools

I'm glad to read that Welsh Lib Dem AM Jenny Randerson's attempt to rid schools of junk food is making progress. BMA Cymru Wales is backing calls for additional powers to improve the quality of school meals.

Wales is tipping the scales!

So Wales, according to research, is officially the fattest place in the UK.

The research is compiled using data from GP practices relating to the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for 2006/07. The QOF includes keeping a register of patients aged 16 and over with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over in the previous 15 months.

GPs are only too aware that the level of chronic disease in Wales is running at a higher level right across the board, than any other part of the UK.

Vascular diseases, like hypertension, heart disease and diabetes, and a range of other conditions, are all related to weight among other things.

While obesity and poverty are inextricably linked – with areas of Wales being the poorest in the UK, and Julian Tudor Hart's inverse care law alive and well in Wales, - improving health remains a massive challenge.

As much as we need to be trying to encourage people to exercise more, very often, those very people who need to, can't afford to join a gym. In supermarkets, the "buy one get one free" offers never seem to be on fruit and veg. Hardly enouraging a healthier lifestyle is it?

So is part of the solution having more exercise on prescription and more investment in sports in schools.

Ultimately, though cost is a contributing factor, we need to take personal responsibility for the amount of exercise we do and the type of food we eat. The buck stops with our burgeoning waistline.