NEW research has delayed the final draft of the obesity strategy. It was due to be debated by the States in June, but the complexity of the subject means it will not come before the House until November.
Health promotion assistant for cancer prevention Lucy Whitman (pictured) has carried out research for the strategy, the first of its kind in the island.
She said it looked at how obesity affected all aspects of society. ‘There are many different reasons in society that cause obesity and they aren’t simplistic.
‘It is going to require fundamental changes in the way we all live our lives.
‘If we don’t make them, there will be significant consequences.’
The nutrition, exercise and weight strategy was put forward as a Green Paper in June 2007 by Health and Social Services.
Ms Whitman said nothing had been changed but she had looked at the more recent research and made sure it applied to Guernsey.
Retiring director of public health Dr David Jeffs said many international sources had been used.
‘There has been a considerable quantity of new research from both international and national bodies on the health, social and economic consequences of rising levels of obesity.
‘Perhaps the most useful of these reports from a Guernsey perspective has been the Foresight Report produced by the UK Government for Science in October.’
He said that that report alone was around 200 pages long and identified 108 variables affecting obesity.
Article posted on 4th September, 2008 - 2.29pm
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