Let’s get moving: revised commissioning guidance

Source: Department of Health

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Date of publication: 16 March 2012

Publication type: Guidance

In a nutshell: This guidance is intended to help commissioners establish the best model locally, and identify the most appropriate service providers to deliver the intervention and local health outcomes.

Length of publication: 68 pages plus associated documents

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: National Heart Forum weekly e-news briefing 28 March 2012

Government plans to tackle obesity unveiled

Source: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

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Date of publication: October 2011

Publication type: Press release

In a nutshell: NICE has announced that it will support local authorities by developing new public health guidance on working with local communities to prevent obesity. The NICE guidance is due to be published in November 2012. Guidance on the best practice principles for weight management services is also going to be developed, to help support effective commissioning of local weight management services. £14 million will be invested in the Change4Life programme, to encourage healthy eating and physical activity.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Combined impact of lifestyle-related factors on total and cause-specific mortality

Source: PLoS Medicine September 2010, volume 7 issue 9

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Date of publication: September 2010

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: This study involved 71,243 women who did not smoke or drink alcohol regularly. Their lifestyles were rated from 0 to 5, with points for taking daily exercise, eating fruit and vegetables and other factors. The study indicated that a relatively unhealthy lifestyle, scoring less than 4, contributed to 59% of cardiovascular deaths among the non-smoking, non-drinking participants. The results of the study therefore support the importance of overall lifestyle modification in disease prevention.

Length of publication: 11 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

MEND Programme to help Wales tackle childhood obesity

Source: eGov Monitor, 20th April 2010

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Date of publication: April 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: The MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition… Do it!) Programme will be launched soon across the country. The free, healthy lifestyle course aims to help local children become fitter and healthier, whilst having fun. The programme consists of two hour sessions twice a week after school over a ten week period. Children between the ages of 7 and 13 and their parents learn about healthy eating and how to enjoy physical activity. An independent study has shown that children who attended the MEND programme experienced long term health benefits such as improvements in cardiovascular fitness.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: Welsh Assembly Government