The Prime Minister and  his Secretary of State for Health seem eager to impose even further regulations on British citizens.   This is a distressing and dangerous tendency of the somewhat Stalinist Blair regime which seeks to impose its own will on free citizens in a great number of fields.   Neither Blair nor Reid know best.   countrydoctor endorses the report of the following research. (David Roberts - Ed)

Europe Should Avoid Heavy Regulation While Facing Growing Obesity Problem, Says Austrian Study

European regulators should avoid excessive legislation when trying to tackle the increasing problem of overweight groups in their population, according to a new study by Austrian researchers published today by the Brussels think-tank the European Enterprise Institute (EEI).

The report was presented by Dr. Kunze  at the EEI event " Europe XXL - How to deal with Obesity at a European level?" during which a select audience of Brussels policymakers also heard views from Swedish Moderate MEP Christofer Fjellner and European retailers represented by Fons Schmid, Executive VP of Dutch retailer Ahold.

"Obesity - epidemiology, pathogenesis, therapy and prevention" authored by Univ.Prof.Dr.med. Michael Kunze based at the Center of Public Health at the Medical University of Vienna, suggests regulators should not target specific foods with high fat or sugar contents. Instead emphasis should be put on a general reduction of energy intake through moderately sized portions, a varied and healthy diet combined with physical exercise.

There is no easy solution to the obesity problem. The only healthy way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. Eliminating specific foods will not yield the desired results and may even be unhealthy in the long term, says Dr. Michael Kunze.

Mr. Fons Schmid, who served as Chairman of the European retailers' (Eurocommerce) Food Policy & Consumers Committee noted that industry and retailers have a responsibility to work alongside national and European regulators in promoting a voluntary plan of action if Europeans are to succeed in getting slimmer. Mr. Schmid stated that he was confident such a European consensus could be achieved and the direct use of legislation avoided.

MEP Christofer Fjellner who sits on the European Parliament Health committee pointed out that recent films such as 'Supersize Me' should not in itself give European regulators cause to increase the burden of regulation.

Preference should be given to education, according to MEP Fjellner, who added that "rather than encouraging the prevalent ideology of its-somebody-else's-fault, people should be given a clear choice -- through clear labeling and better education in schools and at home."

The European Enterprise Institute (EEI) is a Brussels-based think tank aiming to promote entrepreneurship in the EU policy community and to provide a platform for the ideas and philosophy of entrepreneurship throughout Europe . The EEI seeks to strengthen the network of likeminded think tanks and people and foster the Euro-Atlantic dialogue. Read more on http://www.eei-net.org

Source: European Enterprise Institute

Jacob Lund Nielsen of European Enterprise Institute,  (+32)-486-688-282, or jnielsen@eei-net.org

(26/11/04)

More on obesity - and other matters

FOUR IN FIVE PARENTS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD OBESITY

PARENTS in the North admit responsibility lies with them to tackle childhood obesity, a new report reveals today.

More than 80% of parents in the North say that they intend to be more accountable for their child's weight and four in five believe that measures set out in the Government's White Paper last week would go a long way to help them combat obesity in their children. 

But consumer research commissioned by Norwich Union Healthcare, also reveals that two thirds (66 per cent) of parents in the North don't believe that the food industry will take on board the measures suggested by the Government and develop a clear food labelling system that the public will understand.

The Health of the Nation Index, a panel of 250 GPs from across the UK, reveals GPs in the North support for food labelling initiatives - over half (55 per cent) believe traffic light labelling would have a significant long term influence on our overall health.

And 94% of GPs in the Midlands would support a ban on adverts for unhealthy foods during children's primetime television hours.

Dr Doug Wright, clinical development manager at Norwich Union Healthcare adds: "Parents and GPs are together sending out a clear message - we all need to be a lot more responsible for our own health as well as that of our children. Our social behaviour is having a damaging affect on our health and becoming an extra burden for doctors to deal with.  Availability of easy to understand information about our food would help us control our diet"

Dr Ann Robinson, one of the GPs who took part in the Health of the Nation Index research says: "Tackling childhood obesity is a social problem really. School meals remain a nutritional disgrace in many areas while increased funding for sports hasn't filtered down to the majority of our children yet who still spend far too long slumped on sofas in front of the telly.

"We're failing our children by letting them get progressively fatter, less active and more prone to diseases like diabetes. Getting doctors to pick up the pieces is not a solution."

The findings are part of Norwich Union Healthcare's fourth 'Health of the Nation Index', which looks at GPs' views of the health service.  The Index also reveals that nationally:

* Its not just children who are giving us cause for concern.  It appears that the rise in cases of childhood obesity is contributing to the number of adults presenting with diabetes

* Doctors believe the twin danger of diabetes and obesity to be the most pressing concerns for those on the frontline of our healthcare system

* Eight in ten of the GP panel, interviewed by independent medical research specialist Dr Foster for Norwich Union Healthcare, have reported an increase over the past 12 months in the number of adult patients reporting with diabetes

* Conditions such as alcoholism and drug addiction, sexually transmitted diseases and stress have increasingly been seen in the GP surgery over the past year:

* 41% of doctors reported an increase in sexually transmitted diseases

* 78% of GPs have seen a rise in patients suffering from stress

* 54% of doctors have seen an increase in alcoholism and drug addiction

* GPs believe there should be a wider range of IVF options available to couples- six in ten doctors said they'd support the provision of free IVF treatment on the NHS

* More than half of doctors believe that 24-hour alcohol licensing will cause a long term increase in levels of alcoholism

* And nearly three quarters think it will not reduce the level of alcohol related violence

* If appropriate systems were in place, 64% of GPs would welcome the issuing of the contraceptive pill 'over the counter' to women.

Roger Taylor, research director at Dr Foster said: "GPs realise that obesity is too big a problem for doctors to deal with on their own.  Parents, schools and government regulators all have an important role to play in fighting this epidemic."

Full details of the 'Health of the Nation Index' report can be accessed at www.healthofthenation.com

(26/11/04)