Statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet: England 2012

Source: NHS Information Centre

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Date of publication: 23 February 2012

Publication type: Statistics

In a nutshell: Pulls together statistical information from a number of sources, including the NHS IC and the National Audit Office, and uses data such as Hospital Episode Statistics. The data covers both adults and children, prevalance of obesity, physical activity levels, dietary intakes, and health outcomes across the population.

Length of publication: 1 web page and 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.

Healthy Places

Source: National Heart Forum (NHF)

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Date of publication: 21 October 2011

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: The NHF announced the launch of Healthy Places, a new interactive online resource developed with the backing of the Department of Health.  It covers legal issues, planning law and regulations to show local councils, planning groups and health practitioners how they can use existing legislation to improve public health. Features a wide range of highly practical case studies from throughout the UK, showing how the legal regulatory environment is used in areas such as travel, food, physical activity, to proactively support healthy communities.

Length of publication: 1 web page

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:

Free your feet evaluation 2011: key findings and recommendations

Source: BHF National Centre for physical activity and health 

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Date of publication: September 2011

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: 300 secondary schools in the UK took part in the ‘Find your feet’ incentivised walking initiative earlier this year. Loughborough University has evaluated the campaign, talking to Schools Coordinators and young people who took part, and this is their report of the key findings and recommendations.

Length of publication: 7 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.

Link between children’s ‘screen time’ and early markers for cardiovascular disease

Source: Medical News Today

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Date of publication:April 2011

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: An Australian study has found a connection between sedentary behaviour in young children and a narrowing of the vessels in the retina. Retinal microvascular caliber is presently used as a marker for cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure in adults, but it could be used as a subclinical marker for cardiovascular disease in the future.

Length of publication: 1 web page

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: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association

Physical activity patterns – children in England

Source: British Heart Foundation National Centre (BHFNC) – Physical activity and health

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Date of publication: 21 March 2011

Publication type: Report; Statistics

In a nutshell: This publication pulls together the latest facts and statistics from sources such as the Health Survey for England and the National Travel Survey. Covers physical activity levels generally and during the school day, travel to school, PE and sport, as well as sedentary behaviour.

Length of publication: 5 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.

Acknowledgement: Nations Heart Forum eNews Briefing 23.3.2011

Exercise on prescription: changes in physical activity and health-related quality of life

Source: European Journal of Public Health, 2011, 21 (1), p. 56-62

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Date of publication: January 2011

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: This study analysed changes in physical activity among participants of five Exercise on Prescription (EoP) programmes in Denmark. EoP helped to contribute to improved levels of physical activity and health-related quality of life.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Interventions to promote cycling: systematic review

Source: BMJ 2010;341:c5293

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Date of publication: October 2010

Publication type: Systematic review

In a nutshell: Controlled trials and experimental or observational studies from seven countries were analysed to determine what interventions are effective in promoting cycling.

Length of publication: 10 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.

Smoking breeding health inequalities, says FPH

Source: UK Faculty of Public Health

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Date of publication:  27 October 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: This item highlights the north/south divide shown by the local tobacco control profiles for England, recently published by the Association of Public Health Observatories. The profiles give the rates, costs and actions of every local authority and primary care trust in the country.

Length of publication: 1 web page

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.

Improving lifestyle and risk perception through patient involvement in nurse-led cardiovascular risk management

Source: Preventive medicine, 2010, 50 (1-2) p. 35-44

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Date of publication: January-February 2010

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: This study was a cluster-randomised controlled trial involving 25 practices and 615 patients in the Netherlands. An intervention by the practice nurse aimed to involve patients in cardiovascular risk management in order to see if lifestyles improved over the short term. The study showed that patients’ risk perception, anxiety and satisfaction with communication all improved, although lifestyle outcomes did not.

Length of publication: 10 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: ScienceDirect

Drive to boost number of students playing sport

Source: Sport England

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Date of publication: March 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Sport England have announced £10m funding for an ‘Active Universities’ programme, to promote greater student participation in sport. It is thought half of university undergraduate students gain weight, a third gaining over a stone, and many who have previously participated in sport cease to do so during their student years. This initiative is aimed at removing barriers and encouraging young adults to maintain a healthier, more active lifestyle, for long-term health benefit.

Length of publication: 1 web page

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.

Acknowledgements: National Heart Forum Weekly e-news briefing 10 March 2010; The Independent 10 March 2010

Effect of school based physical activity programme (KISS)

Source: BMJ, 23 February 2010

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Date of publication: 23rd February, 2010

Publication type: Research

In a nutshell: A randomised controlled trial took place in 15 elementary schools in Switzerland over one year. A physical activity programme was introduced with the aim of improving physical and psychological health. Body fat, aerobic fitness, physical activity and quality of life were primary outcomes. Body mass index and cardiovascular risk score were secondary outcome measures.

Length of publication: 8 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.

Funding boost to get kids walking to school

Source: Department of Health

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Date of publication: 26 January 2010

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: The ‘Walk once a week’ scheme is run by the Living Streets charity. Children are rewarded with a collectable metal badge for each month they take part, walking to school at least one day per week.  It has been running very successfully for 6 years in every London borough, and is now being expanded to West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Tyne and Wear – areas with high rates of childhood obesity currently.

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: National Heart Forum Weekly e-News Briefing 27 January 2010