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NEWS

Supermarkets should 'cut prices to tackle obesity'

The Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) has called on supermarkets to lower prices to tackle Britain's growing obesity epidemic.

In an article published for its autumn edition of Triple Helix magazine, CMF has calls for tougher measures to reduce the cost of healthy eating options, such as lean high quality meats and fruit and vegetables, to a similar level to processed foods. The call from CMF comes in response to the government's long-awaited White Paper on public health published recently.

Consultant physician Mark Daly, of CMF, also called for an end to high-profile promotion of foods with high energy density, but little nutritional value, more safe non-car transport options to promote exercise and a greater recognition of personal responsibility in order to reduce excess consumption.

"The World Health Organisation has described obesity as 'one of the greatest neglected public health problems of our time with an impact on health which may well prove to be greater than smoking'," said Dr Daly. "In the UK obesity is another inequality suffered by poorer members of society. The reasons behind this are complex, but the cost of healthy food and the high energy density of cheaper foods (high in refined carbohydrate and added fats) are likely to be major factors."

The Triple Helix article first considers the causes of obesity in UK society, before moving on to suggest some steps that could be taken to halt it. It also proposes a Christian response to obesity in a world that prizes the pursuit of physical beauty and where many still suffer from hunger and scarce resources. It concludes with an attempt to find compassionate, yet practical solutions, to some of the issues raised.

Dr Daly's article in the autumn edition of Triple Helix can be downloaded from www.cmf.org.uk/index.htm?pubs/pubs.htm

Credit Action Responds to Queen’s Speech

Credit Action, the money education charity, has warned that understanding as well as legislation is needed to protect vulnerable consumers from loan sharks and extortionate interest rates.

Commenting on the measures announced recently in the Queens’s Speech, Keith Tondeur, Credit Action’s national director said:

"While we welcome the Government’s efforts to protect consumers from unscrupulous lenders, the problem remains that unless people are aware of their rights, they won’t know how to assert them. Without the right information, consumers will still be vulnerable to lenders at the 'sharp end'.

"People need to understand the implications of what they are taking on when they sign a credit agreement. Above all they need to know where to turn for help when things go wrong."

New London centre for YFC

Youth for Christ (YFC), the UK's largest Christian youth organisation, has launched a new centre in Wandsworth, South London, that will give young people access to a full range of faith-based youth work.

A Christian-based youth work project has been running in Wandsworth for several years, and has attracted young people from many different faith and cultures. In describing her hopes for the new centre, Director Pauline Gibbs, recalled the words of one young person who said: "If he [Jesus] was here today, he would be a 'gangster', because he was radical and he'd be where the kids are at".

An official launch event to open the new centre, which will be known locally as SOLiD YFC, took place at East Hill Baptist Church, Wandsworth, and included an appearance by dj Dave Blackwood, songs from Dave Doran and an address from Roy Crowne, National Director of Youth for Christ.

SOLiD YFC will headed up by Pauline Gibb, who has worked with YFC in a number of different roles since 1995. Pauline currently leads a 'SOLiD' youth project and three Rock SOLiD outreach clubs for 11-14 year olds operating within the borough - in a church, an inner-city boys school and on a Battersea estate.

The centre has also joined forces with the Salvation Army and Roehampton Community Church to run joint projects and provide effective resources for youth workers in the Borough.

Pauline said: "The launch of SOLiD YFC is the fulfilment of my dream, not only to establish a base for youth work in Wandsworth but also to facilitate and enable other projects to get off the ground." www.yfc.co.uk

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		NEWS Supermarkets should 'cut prices to tackle obesity' The Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) has called on supermarkets to lower prices to tackle Britain's growing obesity epidemic. In an article published for its autumn edition of Triple Helix magazine, CMF has calls for tougher measures to reduce the cost of healthy eating options, such as lean high quality meats and fruit and vegetables, to a similar level to processed foods. The call from CMF comes in response to the government's long-awaited White Paper on public health published recently. Consultant physician Mark Daly, of CMF, also called for an end to high-profile promotion of foods with high energy density, but little nutritional value, more safe non-car transport options to promote exercise and a greater recognition of personal responsibility in order to reduce excess consumption. "The World Health Organisation has described obesity as 'one of the greatest neglected public health problems of our time with an impact on health which may well prove to be greater than smoking'," said Dr Daly. "In the UK obesity is another inequality suffered by poorer members of society. The reasons behind this are complex, but the cost of healthy food and the high energy density of cheaper foods (high in refined carbohydrate and added fats) are likely to be major factors." The Triple Helix article first considers the causes of obesity in UK society, before moving on to suggest some steps that could be taken to halt it. It also proposes a Christian response to obesity in a world that prizes the pursuit of physical beauty and where many still suffer from hunger and scarce resources. It concludes with an attempt to find compassionate, yet practical solutions, to some of the issues raised. Dr Daly's article in the autumn edition of Triple Helix can be downloaded from www.cmf.org.uk/index.htm?pubs/pubs.htm Credit Action Responds to Queen’s Speech Credit Action, the money education charity, has warned that understanding as well as legislation is needed to protect vulnerable consumers from loan sharks and extortionate interest rates. Commenting on the measures announced recently in the Queens’s Speech, Keith Tondeur, Credit Action’s national director said: "While we welcome the Government’s efforts to protect consumers from unscrupulous lenders, the problem remains that unless people are aware of their rights, they won’t know how to assert them. Without the right information, consumers will still be vulnerable to lenders at the 'sharp end'. "People need to understand the implications of what they are taking on when they sign a credit agreement. Above all they need to know where to turn for help when things go wrong." New London centre for YFC Youth for Christ (YFC), the UK's largest Christian youth organisation, has launched a new centre in Wandsworth, South London, that will give young people access to a full range of faith-based youth work. A Christian-based youth work project has been running in Wandsworth for several years, and has attracted young people from many different faith and cultures. In describing her hopes for the new centre, Director Pauline Gibbs, recalled the words of one young person who said: "If he [Jesus] was here today, he would be a 'gangster', because he was radical and he'd be where the kids are at". An official launch event to open the new centre, which will be known locally as SOLiD YFC, took place at East Hill Baptist Church, Wandsworth, and included an appearance by dj Dave Blackwood, songs from Dave Doran and an address from Roy Crowne, National Director of Youth for Christ. SOLiD YFC will headed up by Pauline Gibb, who has worked with YFC in a number of different roles since 1995. Pauline currently leads a 'SOLiD' youth project and three Rock SOLiD outreach clubs for 11-14 year olds operating within the borough - in a church, an inner-city boys school and on a Battersea estate. The centre has also joined forces with the Salvation Army and Roehampton Community Church to run joint projects and provide effective resources for youth workers in the Borough. Pauline said: "The launch of SOLiD YFC is the fulfilment of my dream, not only to establish a base for youth work in Wandsworth but also to facilitate and enable other projects to get off the ground." www.yfc.co.uk © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.