Change4Life – A Trial Initiative That Could Deliver the Answer to the Obesity Crisis
There’s a new government backed initiative in the UK called Change4Life, which has been aimed at trying to reduce obesity. It has been targeted at nine towns, which have been designated as ‘healthy towns’. Is this another initiative that is going to ‘tinker at the edges’ of the problem or is it going to make a real and lasting difference?
On the positive side it is really good to see government doing something to try and reduce the levels of obesity in the country. Unless something serious is done – and soon – the problem is going to completely swamp the healthcare services and the UK will become an unhealthy, miserable country. There will soon be a whole new meaning to ‘Great’ Britain!
The initiative also seems to be getting local authorities involved which will provide an essential link to the community – and there’s a positive marketing effort too. It all looks like good stuff, but is it going to produce meaningful results? Well it might. Why? Because the initiative has been set up ‘to trial innovative ways of changing people’s behavior’, to quote the Health Secretary.
The recognition that behavior change is the best way to tackle the obesity crisis is a major step in the right direction. The fact that the initiative is there to trial new ways of dealing with the problem shows a degree of openness and willingness to listen that is very encouraging indeed.
This initiative has the opportunity to ‘evolve’ into something that could really make a difference. I have a great deal of sympathy with governments who are trying to find ways of solving the obesity problem. Who to listen to, who to believe? Many initiatives are well-meaning and do good, but don’t even scratch the surface when it comes to solving the problem.
The key lies in changing people’s behavior – and to that extent this initiative has got it right. The problem lies in how best to do this. A community based solution is the right way to start, but delivering the right solution is what is going to make the difference.
There is an answer, it’s based on communities and it’s based on habits, slim habits. It is a solution that could save the country billions of pounds. This is one trial the initiative needs to explore.
A speaker and writer on behavior change and weight loss, John McPhie is committed to helping people to change their behavior and lose weight permanently by learning new eating and lifestyle habits. Learn more about how to lose weight permanently – visit http://www.slimhabit.com
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Tags: andy burnham, Change4life, department of health, diet, itv news, NHS, permanent weight loss, Slim habit
