BMJ  2007;335:1236-1237 (15 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39409.451678.AD

Feature

Childhood obesity

Thin living

¹ France

doi: 10.1136/bmj.39423.452106.AD

In an attempt to tackle climate change and obesity, health secretary, Alan Johnson, thinks the UK should follow the French lead and develop healthy towns. Hannah Westley describes the first 10 towns taking part in France

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The campaign EPODE (Ensemble, prévenons l’obésité des enfants or Together, let’s prevent obesity in children) was launched in January 2004 in 10 towns in different regions of France. Interested towns applied to be considered and the organisers made a selection based on diversity.

Over the course of five years, the target group children, aged between 5 and 12 years, are measured and weighed annually to calculate their body mass index. In an interview with a school doctor, parents are given a letter explaining their child’s weight status and guidelines for diet and physical activity.

Overweight or at-risk children are encouraged to see a doctor while each town receives suggestions for activities, diets, and community initiatives. Leaflets are distributed in shops and supermarkets. Each town can also set up local initiatives which are submitted to the central committee for approval. Simple initiatives include eating a healthy breakfast, safe routes for walking . . . [Full text of this article]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Obesity in children. Part 2: Prevention and management

Ruth R Kipping, Russell Jago, and Debbie A Lawlor
BMJ 2008 337: a1848. [Extract] [Full Text]

Stop all further research—and act

Nicole S Lavery
BMJ 2008 336: 7. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Steps to a leaner Europe

Rory Watson
BMJ 2007 335: 1238. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Unequal weight: equity oriented policy responses to the global obesity epidemic

Sharon Friel, Mickey Chopra, and David Satcher
BMJ 2007 335: 1241-1243. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Katan, M. B. (2009). Weight-Loss Diets for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity. NEJM 360: 923-925 [Full text]  
• Kipping, R. R, Jago, R., Lawlor, D. A (2008). Obesity in children. Part 2: Prevention and management. BMJ 337: a1848-a1848 [Full text]  
• Lavery, N. S (2008). Stop all further research and act. BMJ 336: 7-7 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

How many obesity studies does it take to build one cycle path?

Nicole S Lavery
bmj.com, 15 Dec 2007 [Full text]

Diary products

rama prasad
bmj.com, 18 Dec 2007 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more on doc2doc >>