| DoH announces obesity grant | Posted on 02/10/2008 in Medical Government/ NHS related news The Department of Health (DoH) has announced a new grant aimed to help address obesity levels in children in Shropshire during Rural Health Week 2008.
It said while the traditional view of country living evokes healthy food and an outdoor life, in modern times this can be different, with local shops and schools too far away from homes for young people to walk.
The government said these distances limit the opportunity for day-to-day exercise which can be a vital factor in weight control.
It noted obesity levels in Shropshire are currently at 27 per cent in adults and 16.8 per cent for children.
The latest Mend (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition ... Do It!) programme will start this week with 12 free places due to funding of £400 per child.
David Elliott, public health manager at the DoH in the west Midlands, said: "The Mend programme is a tried and tested way of taking on issues around childhood obesity."
He added many parents do not realise their children may be above the healthy weight range for their age and height, while more than half of obese children grow up to be obese adults.
Earlier this week, a paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association claimed a three-way link between genetics, obesity and colon cancer.Other news stories from 02/10/2008
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