News and Opinion
There are stories relating to obesity breaking around the world every day. The stories below are those where journalists haver sought NOF opnion/quotes or summaries of research on which NOF may have a view. Where possible the source of the stories are identified by the newspaper banner or a URL in red.
NOF Opinion will always be identified in italics.
Department of Health - "people will weigh less "
- Details
- Published on Monday, 23 January 2012
The Department of Health [DH] has announced 66 health measures which it expects local authorities to focus on when the " new " NHS ge ts up and running. In a Public Health Outcomes Framework scheme to cost a ring-fenced £5.2bn, they will additionally receive cash bonuses - a " health premium " - when they report progress. " People will weigh less " is the confident prediction made in the DH Press Release. Oh, if only life was so simple.
It isn't. Though for children it might be simple to establish progress towards weight loss courtesy of the already successful " universal " primary school-based National Child Measurement Programme how will councils reliably measure excess weight loss in its adults? GPs do get QOF payments for taking the BMI of obese patients of 16yrs and over but that is by no means universal. Data collection nationally by demographic surveys has a good track record but local surveys will be a different kettle of fish - and costly. Word on the street says that if the cost is greater than the premium it attracts, why spend the money? This Public Health Outcome may not be even be attempted. What a pity!.