|
|
Healthy Eating Programme Updates
December 2006
As 2006 draws to a close, the HSC is stepping nearer towards its latest challenge to deliver a social marketing programme to promote improved nutrition and the maintenance of healthy weight in New Zealand.
The programme will support the government's Healthy Eating - Healthy Action (HEHA) strategy, focusing primarily on healthy eating.
We've reached a key stage in the development phase of the programme explains Michelle Mako, programme manger. A major focus has been the completion of the review of international evidence on nutrition-related social marketing. The review contains strong indications of where there is good evidence for a social marketing approach. For example, it has shown that focusing on school-based environments can be very effective for this issue, which is supportive of recent initiatives such as those recently announced under Mission On.
The review investigates approaches based on five key factors that are causally related to obesity. These include home and school environments that support healthy food choices for children, a high intake of energy-dense, nutrient poor foods, a high intake of sugars-sweetened soft drinks and fruit juices and a high level of television watching.
We plan to share the findings of the review with stakeholders early next year through the HSC website. This will be accompanied by the findings of interviews with key informants from public health nutrition and related industries. Both pieces of work have been critical in helping us to form the direction, goals and objectives of the new social marketing programme.
The HSC is also planning how the new programme will build on and support the work already taking place in communities, whilst establishing an effective nationwide platform for delivering its strategies.
It has been great getting out and about and talking with so many stakeholders. As well as working to develop a strong relationship with ANA, recent activities have included a fono held with Pacific Island Food and Nutrition Action Group (PIFNAG) and the pacific nutrition sector . Other events are planned in the New Year to explore the opportunities for building the programme s reach and effectiveness with other communities.
The findings of the evidence review will be published on the HSC website in 2007 (www.hsc.org.nz.) In the meantime, for further information about the HSC s new healthy eating social marketing programme contact Michelle Mako at michelle@hsc.org.nz or Anna Passera at anna@hsc.org.nz.
November 2006
The HSC has now completed the following tasks in relation to phase one.
Formative Research Underway into Evidence for Nutrition-Related Social Marketing
HSC has commissioned a review of evidence about nutrition-related social marketing to inform the development of the programme. The review identifies the factors that contribute to unhealthy weight and obesity, and those that promote healthy weight and prevent obesity (based on findings of the World Health Organization Technical Report 916 into diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases). These risk and protective factors show the types of changes that will be needed to meet the social marketing programme's goals and objectives, and the types of strategies that will lend to these changes.
The formative research will include the views of several key people in the nutrition, education, and food industry sectors, including those with experience in working with Maori, Pacific and Asian communities. The evidence review along with these views will inform the direction of the social marketing approach.
Public Health Reference Group Established to Lead Social Marketing Approach to Improving Nutrition
The new Public Health Reference Group for Improving Nutrition brings together individuals with a range of skills and expertise from across the public health nutrition sector, including the areas of obesity, food security/nutrition-related inequalities, those working with Maori, Pacific and Asian communities, and experts in social marketing.
Click here for more information on the Reference Group.
Related Work
HEHA Research Symposium 20-21 June 2006
Hosted by HSC on behalf of the Ministry of Health, the symposium and hui aimed to promote discussion about current and future research needs to HEHA. Key researchers and providers in areas of nutrition, physical activity and obesity attended to discuss and consider the formation of a research agenda to inform future policies and programmes.
Click here for the report and presentations.
Keep up to date
If you would like to receive updates from the HSC regarding developments in the Healthy Eating social marketing programme, please send us an email to info@hsc.org.nz. Alternatively, bookmark this page and return regularly to view progress on identified tasks.
If you have any queries relating to the programme you can contact Michelle Mako, Programme Manager on michelle@hsc.org.nz or Anna Passera, Senior Marketing and Communications on anna@hsc.org.nz.
Last updated: 18/12/06.
|
