City 'must tackle fast-food sales'
CALLS have been made to reduce its numbers of shops and stalls selling unhealthy foods in Nottingham.
The Putting Health at the Heart of Nottingham event was held yesterday to come up with ideas for how to improve the city's health.
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GOOD STUFF: Alice Faricy on her pedal-powered smoothie maker in the Broadmarsh Centre. POSTPHOTO: C080210DM5-2
Nottingham has high rates of smoking and obesity, contributing to large differences in life expectancy in different areas.
Nottingham City Council invited residents, health, community and neighbourhood workers and councillors to discuss the problem.
Ideas included making nicotine patches available wherever cigarettes were sold and doing more to tackle sales of illicit tobacco.
Many delegates called for more action against shops selling unhealthy foods – particularly fast-food outlets near schools.
David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services, said the balance of healthy and unhealthy food was "not right" in some areas of the city.
He said there were 23 places to buy hot food in his Dales ward compared to just six where fruit and vegetables were sold.
"The cost of getting a hot sausage roll is cheaper than getting a bunch of grapes. I think this is an issue for the whole council," he told the full council.
"We need to look at what we can do in planning and licensing to make it more difficult for unhealthy food to be sold."
The council voted to consider all suggestions raised.
In the morning, delegates were shown a series of statistics including:
The ten-year life expectancy gap between Wollaton and the poorest parts of the city
Nottingham's smoking rate of 39% – the second-highest in the country
1,000 more people a year dying than other parts of the country – half caused by smoking
A fifth of year six children in Nottingham classed as obese.
City council public health director Dr Chris Packham said small, isolated projects would not be enough, adding: "The scale of the this is so large that we need to work with the council, the NHS and the community in the next ten years to make a difference that is going to last."
Stalls were set up with information about health schemes in the Broadmarsh Centre.
Delegate Nick McDonald, 32, of Basford, gave up smoking two years ago and said: "It has been a really interesting day – there have been some very innovative ideas about how to tackle smoking. I would strongly agree with the idea of making Old Market Square smoke-free."
The event is part of the Decade of Better Health Campaign, by One Nottingham,.
robert.parsons@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
54 Comments
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by paul, Up Here
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 8:46PM
“Liz, try Holland & Barrett - they do some good veggie (and vegan) stuff and have increased their range quite a bit recenty (but avoid the steakless lattice) and even Boots do some vegan sandwiches (the bugsy is ok if you like carrots, but they do a better one but the name escapes me.
Both H&B and Boots have a store at either end of the city so you are never far away.
I remember V1 - I used to love their stuff although a bit pricey compared to Mcds and BK et al
If you are near Mansfield Road the Natural Food Company is great, I drool every time I go in.”
by Bill Lawrenson, Keyworth
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 10:37AM
“You have only to see the contents of the family trolleys in supermarkets to realise that the problem is within the family and not just the food outlets in town. Eating habits begin at home and are then compounded by the peer group pressures and marketing. Those bad eating habits acquired at home soon result in the demand for the quick and easy family meal at the fast food outlet. After all it's quick, easy, no preparation, no washing up and the kids don't moan and the bad health comes later. Perhaps this is all Darwinism in action.
Incidentally how many delegates were at the meeting?”
by Bongle, Cloud cuckoo land
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 9:08AM
“M, Simple request and one l'm pleased to answer. The quote came from me, and no, l'm not a politician, l've worked in construction all my working life retiring 2 years ago. l'm a big believer in the philosophy that the average rational person should be responsible for their own actions, that includes keeping fit and healthy. l've just had a 1 hour work out on the punch bag, sit ups and press ups.
I smoked until the facts on smoking were overwhelming. I enjoy a drink, but not to excess and l love a fry up, chocolate and the odd burger, but all things in moderation. Have l had medical problems, scares? You bet ya, but l listen to what doctors and specialists tell me and guess what apart from a bit of depression reading some of the garbage comments on this site l feel pretty good!”
by Fred, Notts
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 8:12AM
“Lesta, I was one of those delegates. I'm an ordinary resident living within the City boundary. I hold down a full time job, I have a family, I exercise 5 times a week and I have a fairly healthy diet.
I am also overweight and have a BMI over 30 but despite this I am fit and healthy.
However, I am one of those people at the meeting who was calling for a reduction in the number of fast food outlets.
For me it's not just about weight, it's also about the amount of street litter. Plus, as I've said before, kids need to be given a healthier option so that they can avoid becoming obese and being a strain on the NHS in future.”
by Lesta, Lace Market
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 10:23PM
“"Many delegates called for more action against shops selling unhealthy foods ¿ particularly fast-food outlets near schools."
Who are these delegates ? Who do they represent ? Were any of them allowed to voice an opinion which didn't follow the Putting Health at the Heart of Nottingham agenda ?
Will they call for the closing of curry houses as curry is high in saturated fat (ghee) and salt ? Will they ban fish and chips, kebabs, pizzas and chateau brion ? What, exactly, is "junk food" ? Is it "junk food" just cheap food ? Will expensive food still be allowed to be full of fat as, if it's expensive and served in a 4 star restaurant, then it must be good ? Is there any difference between someone drinking a fine bottle of claret and someone who drinks 2 litres of Frosty Jacks ?
Why don't they just cough and mind their own business ?”