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Food and Nutrition Strategy for Jersey 2017 – 2022.

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Strategic Public Health Unit

R.85/2017

Foreword

Food  is  our  source  of  energy,  central  to  human  rule of thumb – although evidence has been emerging existence. The quality of our nutrition is fundamental  that even more is even better!) benefit from an additional to our health chances, throughout the life-course  protective effect because of the reduced risk of many from  conception  until  the  end  of  life.  From  the  cancers, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

very  beginning  we  need  a  healthy  balanced  diet

with  enough,  and  the  right  balance  of  proteins,  Obesity is regarded now as a major global economic carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals not just to  problem. Up to 7% of all health care spending is needed sustain life but also to remain strong, energetic, and  for measures to prevent or treat obesity, and a further mentally and physically active. 20% is attributable to obesity-related medical conditions

(including  diabetes,  cardiovascular  disease,  cancers, Breast milk is the only perfect food. Breastfed babies  back pain, arthritis, depression). These health care costs benefit from the best possible start in life, with a lower risk of  are not the only burden on government finances. Obesity infections and allergies, better brain development, and the  causes wider impacts on economic productivity and social best chances of going on to have a healthy weight through  security systems.

childhood  and  into  adulthood.  Although  breastfeeding

initiation rates here in Jersey are good (74%), they are not  If the current trajectory continues, by 2030 almost half of well sustained. By 6-8 weeks the proportion of babies still  the world's population will be overweight or obese. Based benefiting from breastmilk falls to around a half, and by 9  on Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) from the Global months of age to only a minority (17%). Burden of Disease Database, obesity is one of the top

three global social burdens generated by human beings, Relative malnutrition does still occur even in Western  ranking alongside smoking and armed conflict. In the societies,  and  can  contribute  to  frailty  and  loss  of  UK, the cost of obesity as a proportion of GDP (3.0%) independence in older age.  is second only to smoking However the most pressing  (3.6%).1

public  health  concern

nowadays – that of rising  It's a growing problem in obesity levels and all the  Obesity is a complex  Jersey  too.  In  2010,  less

consequent  health  harm,  than half of our population and  costs  to  individuals,  disorder with complex  were overweight or obese.

families, communities and  causes. There is  By 2015, just over half were governments  -  is  linked  in  this  category,  leaving

to relative excess of food  no single or simple  Islanders  with  a  healthy energy intake. It is a key  weight  in  a  minority  for

focus of this Strategy.  solution to tackle it.  the  first  time.2  We  know

also that a fifth of school The  ongoing  epidemic  pupils overall in Reception of  obesity  in  developed  classes  are  overweight nations  has  its  origins  or obese. This proportion in  the  latter  half  of  the  20th  century.  Its  associated  rises to a third of our Year 6 pupils and the end of their consequences  -  notably  diabetes,  increased  cancer  primary schooling.

risk  and  cardiovascular  disease  -  are  creating  an

unprecedented  and  unsustainable  challenge  to  health  Obesity  is  a  complex  disorder  with  complex  causes. care  systems  specifically,  and  to  governments  more  There is no single or simple solution to tackle it. At the generally. It threatens to slow or even reverse the gains  simplest level, a person's weight increases because the of life expectancy that have been achieved over the past  amount of energy consumed in food exceeds the energy 50 years. they  expend  through  basic  metabolism  and  additional activity. But the term obesogenic environment' has been

As  well  as  being  protected  from  developing  obesity,  coined to help to understand what has been driving the people who consume good levels of fruit and vegetables  current obesity crisis. The relative cost of food has been as part of their balanced diet (5-a-day' is a reasonable  falling, partly as a result of growing industrialisation of

food production. The cost of energy-dense foods high in fat and sugar has fallen the most, making the unhealthiest, most obesogenic foods the most affordable for families struggling to feed hungry families on limited budgets. Cheap fast-food outlets have (literally) been fuelling the problem further. These factors help to explain why there is  such  a  pronounced  socio-economic  divide  in  the prevalence of obesity, and why obesity-related chronic medical conditions are such a serious health inequalities issue. In parallel with this changing food environment, to make matters worse, physical activity has also been declining and time spent being sedentary has increased, with increased car use along with advances in technology (television, computers and computer games etc).

Traditionally,  public  health  strategies  have  focused  on campaigns and education aimed at changing individual behaviour. There is a growing understanding now that behaviour  change  is  not  easy  to  achieve,  influenced as it is by multiple factors including not only changes in knowledge, attitudes, motivation and skills, but also environmental factors such as access (including price), availability, cultural norms and expectations.

The objectives outlined in this strategy, therefore, reflect the  understanding  that  we  cannot  expect  behaviour change and nutrition to improve unless there is a change in the environments in which we live, and the development of policies to encourage and facilitate healthier food and nutrition. The focus is on prevention, but given that just over half of the adult population in Jersey is already overweight or obese, the strategy also addresses the current need for services to support weight management for both adults and children.

The  challenge  is  huge.  This  cohesive  system-wide strategy, as part of the States of Jersey's Health and Wellbeing Framework, to start addressing it will require commitment  across  government.  It  will  also  need  to engage the enthusiasm and energy of key stakeholders in the private, as well as the voluntary and community sectors, and of course the people of this lovely island.

Dr Susan Turnbull, Medical Officer of Health

Contents

Foreword 2 Contents 4 Executive summary  5 Introduction 6 Policy context  7 Progress so far  9

Achieving success  10 Strategic aim  10 Population-level indicators for diet-related disease risk  10 Turning the curve on diet-related disease risk  10

Guiding principles  12 Ensure the strategy and its actions are based on evidence of effectiveness  12 Empowering individuals and communities through health-enhancing environments  12 Promoting a life course approach with a focus on prevention through early intervention  12 Reduce inequalities in achieving a healthy diet  12

Areas for action  13 Promote an understanding of the benefits of a healthy diet throughout the life stages,  13 especially among key target groups

Enable change through the creation of healthy food and drink environments  13 Provide access to training, skills and services to turn understanding into action  14 Development of weight management pathways for children and adults  14

Monitoring and evaluation  15 References 16

Acknowledgements

The Food and Nutrition Strategy Steering Group consists of colleagues across Education, Dietetics, Department of Metabolic Medicine, Family Nursing and Home Care and Midwifery. All have contributed to the development of the the strategy, offering ongoing support and guidance in their respective areas of expertise.

Executive summary

Diet-related  disease  has  become  a  leading  cause of preventable death globally, and local data shows that Jersey has not escaped this trend. The aim of the Food and Nutrition Strategy is to address the urgent need to turn the curve on diet-related disease in the Jersey population, by focusing on four areas of action:

Promoting an understanding of the benefits of a healthy diet for all

Enabling change through the creation of healthy food and drink environments

Providing access to training and skills to turn understanding into action

Developing weight management pathways for children and adults

The strategy highlights the need to work collaboratively across government to impact on the wider determinants of health, and the inequalities that exist locally in rates of obesity and risk of diet-related disease. This among other key themes is reflected in the strategy's guiding principles to:

Ensure actions are based on evidence of effectiveness

Promote a life course approach, with a focus on prevention through early intervention

Empower individuals and communities through health-enhancing environments

Reduce inequalities in achieving a healthy diet

Deliver through a multi-sector alliance

The progress and success of the strategy will be measured primarily by monitoring trends in the following indicators; prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults; levels of fruit and vegetable consumption among children and adults; and rates of infant breastfeeding. A collaborative and evidence-based outcomes approach will result in future reductions in diet-related disease, increase the health of our Island population, and help achieve the developing Island Vision Framework outcome of enjoying long, healthy active lives.

Introduction

Food  is  fundamental  to  survival  and  essential  to quality of life. It is not just a physiological need but also a focus of celebrations, traditions and positive experiences.  Nutritional  status  affects  how  we function, grow, feel and think, how we interact with each other and our ability to contribute to society.

In the past few decades, shifting dietary patterns have resulted in the increased consumption of an energy-dense diet by many, high in refined sugar and fat, and low in fruit and vegetables. This is a major risk driving the rising tide of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, now responsible for 70% of all deaths in Europe.3 In Jersey, cancer is the most common  cause  of  death,  followed  by  cardiovascular disease. Together these conditions account for more than 60 per cent of all deaths locally.4 Being overweight or obese is the single biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. It is linked to 10 types of cancer, including cancer of the oesophagus, bowel, pancreas, breast and womb.5 Low levels of fruit and vegetable consumption is linked to increased risks of cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx and lung.6,7 Applying UK modelling estimates of the wider economic cost of overweight and obesity to the Jersey population indicates a cost of £42 million per year to Jersey's economy, with projected costs rising to £57 million per year by 2025, if current trends continue.8

Despite increased awareness of the importance of healthy eating, levels of diabetes, overweight and obesity remain high, indicating that education, knowledge and awareness is not uniform, or may not in itself translate into action. Ensuring everyone has the education, knowledge and skills to make informed choices regarding their diet has the potential to be most effective if we also create food environments that make healthy choices easier. We need better recognition of the complex relationship between individual health behaviour in the context of the physical, social, cultural and economic environment in which they are made.

Research shows that cost is a barrier for low-income groups meeting recommended levels of fruits and vegetables,9 and the States of Jersey's annual social survey shows a large proportion of Islanders report that it is difficult to find affordable fruit and vegetables in Jersey.10


Research also shows that lower-income groups are more likely to be overweight or obese,11 and locally, we know that levels of obesity are significantly higher among children living in urban areas, which are more likely to house low- income families.12 To impact on wider determinants of health such as the affordability of healthy options, we must adopt a multi-sectoral approach to support the diverse range of policy and environmental actions required.

Solutions advocated by the World Health Organisation focus on a series of integrated government policies to improve the food environment, coupled with education. These approaches range from healthy food procurement policies, product reformulation and changes to planning laws, through to the consideration of pricing policies such as taxation and subsidies for unhealthy and healthy food respectively. This strategy sets out a number of evidenced- based approaches to improve the food environment, such as implementation of targeted taxes on sugary drinks, which are linked to weight gain and obesity.13,14 Plans to introduce a sugar tax in the UK as part of the Childhood Obesity Plan for Action plan are supported by evidence that  this  approach  will  have  benefits  for  children  and young people, with reductions in levels of tooth decay and obesity.15 Work has already begun with colleagues both in the UK and in Guernsey to work towards adopting a sugary drinks tax in Jersey, as part of the strategy's multi- component approach.

Despite increased awareness of the importance of healthy eating, levels of diabetes, overweight and obesity remain high

Policy context

The Food and Nutrition Strategy is underpinned by the States of Jersey Strategic Plan for 2015-201816, with its focus Health and Wellbeing, and tackling the wider determinants of health. Key priority actions within the strategy are supported by the P82/2012 A New Way Forward for Health and Social Care' work stream for Reducing preventable disease - enabling healthier lifestyles', the first phase of which has been agreed within the States of Jersey's Medium Term Financial Plan from 2017.

In addition, the developing States of Jersey Island Vision framework17 alongside the central government ownership of the strategy, will support us in reaching beyond 2021, in recognition that health and wellbeing is central to the future  of  our  Island's  prosperity.  Supporting  improved dietary behaviours is key to achieving our aspirations for a healthier Jersey, and essential in delivering the outcome of enjoying long, healthy active lives for all Islanders.


This cross government approach acknowledges that our health behaviours are shaped by the environment in which we are born, grow, live, learn and work. Health, ill-health and health inequalities are the consequence of a wide range of factors that operate at a number of different levels, illustrated in Figure 2. Factors that influence our health include those that are fixed, such as age, sex and genetic makeup. A set of further and modifiable factors are shown as a series of layers of influence including: personal lifestyle and the physical and social environment. Wider layers around  our  living  and  working  conditions  continue  to influence health outcomes, but are factors over which we have less individual influence. The social, economic and environment conditions in which we live are not within our  individual  control,  yet  they  strongly  influence  our health chances and are largely driven by public policy. In essence, the causes of health and health inequality are complex but they do not arise by chance.

Figure 1: Cross departmental working for Food and Nutrition (States of Jersey Island Vision framework)

Health is everyone's business - Food and Nutrition

Promoting Healthier Diets

Tourism

Social Security

Education

Economic Development

Health and Social Services

Sport

Primary Care


Weight Management

Health and Social Services

Primary Care

Social Security

Education

Sport


Healthier Food Environments

Planning

Procurement

Environment

•Treasury and Resources

Customs

Economic Development

Policy context cont.

Figure 2: The Wider Determinants of Health (Dahlgren and Whitehead18)

economicL, icvuinltgu&raworking

cio conditions

o

s Work

al environment

ne andcomm Unemployment

r

al life

e Education cial du Wsaantietra taionnd

G So divi Health

n care

I services Agriculture

and food

production

Housing

Age, sex and constitutional factors

The development of a Food and Nutrition Strategy is consistent with the States of Jersey Strategic Plan, and should complement and be supported by strategic policy within Education, Planning and Environment, Housing, Social Security, Treasury, Health and Social Services and Jersey Sport.

Specific interdependencies exist with the following:

P82/2012 A New Way Forward for Health and Social Care'19

Early Years and Childhood Partnership20

Fit for the Future', the Sports Development Strategy for sport and physical activity in Jersey21

Jersey's Sustainable Transport Policy', Department for Infrastructure22


The approaches within this strategy complement, but do not address, the challenges and practicalities of local food production and sustainability, and issues around expanding organic food production and reducing nitrate levels in our water supply. These are addressed within the States of Jersey Rural Economy Strategy23. Where appropriate, the Food and Nutrition Strategy will complement and support the Rural Economy Strategy in this work.

Progress so far

In  recent  years  much  has  been  achieved  across the  States  of  Jersey  and  within  the  private  and community  and  voluntary  sector,  in  response  to growing concerns of poor dietary behaviours and increasing overweight and obesity in our Island.

Schools have a strong history of supporting learning about the importance of a healthy diet and related healthier behaviours  through  both  PSHE  (Personal  Social  and Health Education) and science curriculums. Healthier diet behaviours are also encouraged through whole school approaches to learning about food, alongside creating school environments that are consistent with this learning. The Education Department, in collaboration with Public Health and private sector providers, have worked together towards improved provision for children and young people within secondary schools - by increasing the availability of  healthy  and  nutritious  food  within  canteens,  and restricting unhealthy options, through an agreed school food standard. Breakfast clubs are also now a feature in many schools, allowing for increased access to a meal before school begins, and the increased concentration and learning opportunities that come with this.

Within the voluntary and community sector the charity Caring Cooks has been growing the provision of cooking skills courses for families and teaching skills in making healthy low-cost meals from scratch. The charity have also set up several cooking and growing clubs across primary  schools  and  integrated  growing,  picking  and preparation of fresh produce across the curriculum within these schools.

These are just some of the examples of work that has gone on. One of the key advantages of this strategy is that it is able to build on and celebrate these achievements, as well as provide support where needed to increase momentum and future success.

Achieving success

Strategic aim

The long-term aim of the Food and Nutrition Strategy is:

To reduce diet-related disease in the Jersey population

Population-level indicators for diet-related disease risk

To measure our progress, we will have a focus on the following population-level indicators:

Levels of overweight and obesity in children and adults in Jersey

Levels of children and adults consuming recommended levels of fruit and vegetables in Jersey

Levels of infant breastfeeding in Jersey

These indicators have been chosen because there is strong evidence showing them to be linked to the level of risk of diet-related diseases. Table 1 below, shows the relationship of these indicators as factors that can affect disease chances.


Turning the curve on diet-related disease risk

Turning the curve' simply means trying to shift the direction of observed trends to achieve improved outcomes for a population. The graphs 1-5 show current trends for the selected indicators for Jersey's adult and child population. Each graph shows future projections for the direction of each indicator if no action is taken - as depicted by the red arrows. Blue arrows indicate a positive change in direction, which we aim to achieve through the work of the Food and Nutrition Strategy. Observing future trends which shift away from the projected red trend lines, and towards the positive direction of these blue arrows, will indicate our success in turning the curve' in the years to come.

This population-level data will undergo further analysis as the strategy moves forward into action, in order to identify and address specific health inequalities that exist between population groups. We already know that health inequalities exist locally with rates of obesity significantly higher  among  children  living  in  urban  post  codes.27 We also know that obesity sharply increases between reception and year six aged children.28

Action will be delivered through a multi-sector alliance ensuring effective, incremental and sustainable changes to long established individual, cultural and environmental practices. This will require support and leadership for an integrated partnership approach across the States, private, and third-sector organisations. Engagement with all sectors, within the context of accepted standards and best evidence to meet nutrition and health goals, must be encouraged throughout the development, implementation and monitoring of the Food and Nutrition Strategy.

Table1: Links to diet-related disease

Indicator Link to diet-related disease

Overweight and obesity are linked to higher risks of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular Levels of overweight

disease and certain cancers, as well as metabolic, musculoskeletal, respiratory and and obesity

psychosocial problems24

Levels of fruit and  Increasing consumption of whole fruit and vegetables is linked to a reduced risk of vegetable  cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer. Emerging evidence also shows a role in consumption maintaining a healthy weight25

Levels of  Breastfeeding is linked to a lower risk of infection for babies, improved intelligence and a breastfeeding reduced risk of childhood obesity, which is in turn strongly linked to obesity in adults.26

Graph 1: % reception aged children overweight or obese in Jersey

35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

1997-11999997-12909091-22000033-22000055-22000077-22000099-22001111-22001133-2015

Graph3: % children eating recommended levels of fruit and vegetables in Jersey

40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

2006 2010 2014


Graph 2: % adults overweight or obese in Jersey

60% 40% 20% 0%

1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Graph 4: % adults eating recommended levels of fruit and vegetables in Jersey

60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

Graph5: % partial and exclusive infant breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks*

50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

Partially 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Totally

*Measurement for breast feeding at six is currently at low levels. Options will be explored to increase measurement, in line with evidence that breastfeeding for six months has the most significant health benefits.

Guiding principles

Ensure the strategy and its actions are  Reduce inequalities in achieving a healthy based on evidence of effectiveness diet

With  finite  financial  resources  and  infrastructure,  it  is  The social determinants of health (as described in figure imperative that initiatives and approaches to prevent and  2)are primarily responsible for health inequalities. Policies control diet-related disease be based on sound public health  that positively influence social and economic conditions principals and scientific evidence regarding effectiveness.  can support changes in individual behaviour and improve Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care  health at both individual and population level. Excellence (NICE guidance) provides a sound structure

for developing evidence-based approaches; however it  Social  inequalities  contribute  significantly  to  nutritional is essential to consider their transferability to the unique  status and diet-related conditions. An understanding of infrastructure,  cultural  and  environmental  differences  the needs of the key target groups in our society, whether specific to Jersey.  through age, gender, ethnicity, disability or socio-economic

status, is essential in ensuring limited resources are spent Empowering individuals and communities  in the most appropriate way, and to maximise impact on

through health-enhancing environments avoidable inequalities in diet. A focus on the accessibility,

availability and affordability of food in Jersey, as well as Individuals, families and the wider community all have a  access to appropriate nutritional information and skills, role to play in the prevention of diet-related disease, and  and basic food preparation resources can help to close should be supported in making healthier choices easier  the gap in health inequalities.

through the creation of healthy food environments. Actions

can be supported at various levels, from island-wide policy

development and legislation, through to engaging people

to implement change at an individual level.

Promoting a life course approach with a focus on prevention through early intervention

Unless dietary risk factors and obesity are addressed in

childhood, most of the financial consequences are likely  Actions that

to increasingly continue to be incurred when treating and

managing a range of preventable disease and conditions  encourage healthy in adulthood.29, 30 diets in early

years should be Itinnhfirtaoianuttgivahentsodwtehhaeircplhyr ofyomecaourtssioofnenoeafdnbintregenapasrttaafecl etaidcneidnsgm,, aaarnteedronafapplpanrorutptircriutiaiolatner reinforced through

importance. Dietary tastes and behaviours established in  healthy workplace cchhiillddhreono dwhcoa narcearorby etsheroiungthhetoir aedaurllyt ltiefee.nUs pa rteo l7ik9e%ly otof environments and

remain obese as adults. Actions that encourage healthy  the promotion of

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nutrition for healthy icllanrees. s and for the elderly, especially those in residential  adulthood.

Areas for action

The Food and Nutrition Strategy actions will focus on consideration and progression of the following evidence-based priority areas:

Promote an understanding of the benefits of a healthy diet throughout the life stages, especially for key target groups

Enable change through the creation of healthy food and drink environments

Provide access to training, skills and services to turn understanding into action

Development of a weight management pathway for children and adults

Promote an understanding of the benefits  adults, taking into account the needs of different age of a healthy diet throughout the life stages,  groups, cultural relevance and levels of health literacy. especially among key target groups

Promote the importance of nutrition within key target

Support  actions  that  build  on  current  activities  to groups,  including  those  with  chronic  illness  and promote a healthy diet, beginning in antenatal stages, older people, both in the community and within care and continuing throughout pregnancy and early years, settings.

focusing  on  maternal  diet,  breastfeeding,  weaning

and healthy infant nutrition. Enable change through the creation of

healthy food and drink environments

Explore options to encourage early years care settings

to adopt healthy eating policies and standards which • Expand support of breastfeeding policies and venues support  the  promotion  of  age-appropriate  healthy in  the  community  and  the  workplace,  designed eating messages, as well as investing in appropriate to  encourage  and  support  women  to  continue training for practitioners to make the most of brief breastfeeding for the first six months of infancy. intervention  opportunities  offered  through  child

health  clinics,  education  and  community  settings. • Continue to support Education in the roll out and Consideration  may  be  given  to  specific  nutrition monitoring of Jersey School Food Standards across policy requirements or guidelines as well as training secondary  schools,  and  support  expansion  of on  minimum  standards  as  part  of  the  process  to standards to include early years settings.

registration for early years settings.

Build on progress made by Education, ensuring dining

Continue to build on good work currently supported environments and catering facilities within educational within  primary  and  secondary  schools.  Activity settings  encourage  the  consumption  of  balanced should  ensure  the  best  use  of  curriculum,  dining meals within a welcoming and social environment, and and outdoor environments in primary and secondary raise awareness of the co-benefits of this regarding school settings, in order to continue to encourage the improvements in student's academic performance. development of healthy eating habits in childhood,

and  facilitate  growing  and  cooking  skills  with • Increase access to breakfast clubs across all schools opportunities  for  parent/carer  engagement  where island-wide,  ensuring  they  provide  nutritionally feasible, particularly in young adults and looked-after balanced breakfasts that are accessible to all. children. Consideration should be given to supporting

the development and implementation of an evidence- • Encourage  the  further  development  of  healthy based whole school nutrition programme. eating  policies  and  healthy  procurement  policies across  States  of  Jersey  departments,  in  line  with

Encourage  the  development  and  promotion  of Health  Promoting  Hospitals  and  Government consistent  dietary  messages  based  on  agreed Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services, nutritional  targets  within  the  workplace  and  social to encourage healthier food and catering across the media,  to  promote  healthier  food  choices  among public sector.

Areas for action cont.

Consider a range of fiscal measures to improve access to a healthy balanced diet for key target groups, such as free school meals and co-operative food banks, in an effort to reduce diet-related health inequalities. Considerations may also include targeted subsidies to  influence  affordability  and  access  to  fruits  and vegetables, particularly for key target groups, along with taxes to discourage the consumption of food and beverage products high in fat, sugar and salt.

Consider  planning  measures  to  limit  and  regulate placement of fast food outlets, particularly with regard to  proximity  to  schools,  and  to  ensure  minimum standards for cooking and food storage in housing accommodation.

Consider the development and adoption of food and nutrition standards for care homes and residential facilities, as part of the registration and inspection process.

Work with retailers to ensure promotion of healthier choices  and  consumer-friendly  nutrition  labels,  to facilitate consumer understanding of the nutritional content of foods and potentially influence the purchase and consumption of a healthier diet.

Work  with  the  hospitality  and  catering  industry  to reformulate  menus,  consider  portion  control  and promote healthier food options through displays and nutritional information. Consider the introduction of a healthy catering award scheme to encourage the adoption  of  healthier  cooking  techniques,  use  of healthier ingredients, nutrient profiling and provision and identification of healthier options for consumers.

Work with local food producers and Genuine Jersey to promote consideration of the nutritional content of products and reformulation where appropriate.

Support  the  development  of  legislation  to  ensure Environmental Health have the power and capacity to enforce appropriate food hygiene standards and labelling requirements within the catering industry.


Provide access to training, skills and services to turn understanding into action

Ensure  provision  of  appropriate  training  for  health and education practitioners to make the most of brief intervention and nutrition counselling opportunities i.e. primary care settings, health visitors, teaching staff and child care workers.

Increase access to provision of training in nutrition, as well as food hygiene, for the catering industry i.e. subsidised access to Level 2 training on healthier food and special diets.

Develop community-based training in nutrition and cooking  skills  for  targeted  groups,  such  as  new mothers, young adults leaving care, older men, carers and low-income groups.

Development of weight management pathways for children and adults

Develop  and  disseminate  guidance  that  supports access  to  the  care  pathways  currently  available across services and within the community for those identified as underweight, overweight and obese.

Identify  care  pathways  and  funding  required  to establish appropriate weight management services to meet local need. These services should be designed to  support  the  adoption  of  skills,  behaviour  and appropriate treatment interventions to protect against the development of diet-related disease. This includes the development of guidelines and quality standards to ensure high quality, reliable, cost effective evidence- based services.

Ensure consideration is given to weight management support before, during and after pregnancy, family- based projects to support obese children and their families, weight management and bariatric services for adults, particularly for those with co-morbidities.

Prioritise  the  development  of  weight  management services to meet the particular needs of children and teenagers.

Monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring  of  the  progress  of  the  Food  and  Nutrition Strategy will use an outcomes based approach. We will focus  on  population-levels  of  overweight  and  obesity, fruit and vegetable consumption and breastfeeding, and look to turn the curve on these indicators, away from current concerning trends. We will also look to develop performance measures at programme level, which will gauge participation and community engagement with the strategy, as well as customer satisfaction. The Food and Nutrition Strategy Steering Group will be responsible for the ongoing monitoring of identified indicators, providing updates  on  progress  and  challenges  relating  to  the implementation of actions, and reviewing evidence based solutions and strategies for moving forward. Meetings will be on a biannual basis and the Steering Group will report to the Medical Officer of Health, and annually to the States of Jersey Council of Ministers.

There  will  be  a  focus  on  ensuring  the  maintenance of the monitoring and surveillance systems which allow reporting  on  our  identified  population-level  indicators, such  as  the  Child  Weight  Measurement  Programme and key questions within the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey.

References

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Discussion paper

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3  World Health Organization, 2005. Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment.

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4  States of Jersey, Public Health Statistics Unit, 2016. Health Profile for Jersey, 2016.

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5  Cancer Research UK and UK Health Forum, 2016.

Tipping the scales: Why preventing obesity makes economic sense.

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8  Butland B, Jebb S, Kopelman P, et al. Tackling obesities: future choicesproject report (2nd Ed). London: Foresight

Programme of the Government Office for Science, 2007. www.bis.gov.uk/assets/bispartners/foresight/docs/obesity/17. pdf

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Rollins, and Lancet Breastfeeding Series Group. 2016. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet 387(10017):475-490.

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28 Ibid

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411S-414S.

31 Chief Medical Officer, 2008. Excerpt NICE guidelines; Weight management: lifestyle services for overweight or obese

children and young people. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph47/resources/weight-management-lifestyle- services-for-overweight-or-obese-children-and-young-people-1996362978757

Strategic Public Health Unit