Written Question · S2W-14722 · Session 2
What the research findings are on new approaches to changing eating behaviour by targeting groups such as schoolchildren, pregnant women an…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the research findings are on new approaches to changing eating behaviour by targeting groups such as schoolchildren, pregnant women and elderly people, as referred to in Eating for Health: A Diet Action Plan for Scotland.
The answer
The main new approaches to changing eating behaviours in these groups and details of research carried out or being carried out is shown below.
Schoolchildren. The school meals policy “Hungry for Success” (HFS) isfocussed on changing eating behaviour at school. Nutrient standards have been adopted in all Primary and Special Schools by December 2004 and are due in Secondary Schools by December 2006. As part of their inspections HM Inspectorateof Education (HMIE) are responsible for ensuring that the new standards areadhered to. Along with HMIE monitoring baseline research has been commissioned tolook at the outcomes of HFS and a comparative research programme has also been commissioned to take place in 2007.
Free Fruit in Schools
- Free fruit to all P1 and P2 pupils. Independent research was commissioned in February 2005 to evaluate the impact of the scheme and will report later in the year.
Health Promoting Schools (HPS)
- Existing policy on Health Promoting Schools. Working Together for Scotland: a Programme for Government, published in January 2001, committed the Executive to encouraging every school to become a health-promoting school by 2007. Research findings can be found in the HMIE study of health promotion in schools Health Promotion
- Issues for Councils and Schools, published in 1999. HMIE, have also recently published The Health Promoting School in the How Good is our School series. (available on www.hmie.gov.uk)
Pregnant Women – The Framework for Maternity Services stresses thatall women of reproductive age should be empowered and encouraged to be as healthyas possible. Health education and advice should be given at every opportunity byhealth service professionals when they are providing services for pregnant women.This should include advice and support on breastfeeding, healthy eating and theuse of relevant NHS Health Scotland resources such as Ready, Steady, Baby.
Elderly People – Approaches on changing eating behaviour for older people who are living independently are incorporated in the actions supporting the Executive’s healthy living campaign for the general population. Health Scotland has published Eat Well Stay Active a healthy eating resource targeted at the over 60s.
For older people in care settings the National Care Standards expect the provision of nutritionally balanced and varied meals. Care homes are inspected twice a year and the inspection reports are available to the public.
In addition to that, more comprehensive research findings on changes to eating behaviour can be found in the Scottish Health Education Population Survey (www.hebs.com/researchcentre/pdf/HEPSFinalReport211.pdf) and the Scottish Health Behaviours of Scottish Schoolchildren Survey www.hbsc.org/countries/downloads_countries/Scotland?Briefing_Paper_3.pdf). The Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency also recently published the report of a working group investigating methods for nutritional surveillance in Scotland and the joint response of the Executive and FSA to its recommendations is also published (Report- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/health/msdt-00.aspResponse
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/health/msdtr-00.asp.)
Further information will be available in October 2005 with the publication of the latest Scottish Health Survey which reports on the health of the entire population and includes information on diet.
Schoolchildren. The school meals policy “Hungry for Success” (HFS) isfocussed on changing eating behaviour at school. Nutrient standards have been adopted in all Primary and Special Schools by December 2004 and are due in Secondary Schools by December 2006. As part of their inspections HM Inspectorateof Education (HMIE) are responsible for ensuring that the new standards areadhered to. Along with HMIE monitoring baseline research has been commissioned tolook at the outcomes of HFS and a comparative research programme has also been commissioned to take place in 2007.
Free Fruit in Schools
- Free fruit to all P1 and P2 pupils. Independent research was commissioned in February 2005 to evaluate the impact of the scheme and will report later in the year.
Health Promoting Schools (HPS)
- Existing policy on Health Promoting Schools. Working Together for Scotland: a Programme for Government, published in January 2001, committed the Executive to encouraging every school to become a health-promoting school by 2007. Research findings can be found in the HMIE study of health promotion in schools Health Promotion
- Issues for Councils and Schools, published in 1999. HMIE, have also recently published The Health Promoting School in the How Good is our School series. (available on www.hmie.gov.uk)
Pregnant Women – The Framework for Maternity Services stresses thatall women of reproductive age should be empowered and encouraged to be as healthyas possible. Health education and advice should be given at every opportunity byhealth service professionals when they are providing services for pregnant women.This should include advice and support on breastfeeding, healthy eating and theuse of relevant NHS Health Scotland resources such as Ready, Steady, Baby.
Elderly People – Approaches on changing eating behaviour for older people who are living independently are incorporated in the actions supporting the Executive’s healthy living campaign for the general population. Health Scotland has published Eat Well Stay Active a healthy eating resource targeted at the over 60s.
For older people in care settings the National Care Standards expect the provision of nutritionally balanced and varied meals. Care homes are inspected twice a year and the inspection reports are available to the public.
In addition to that, more comprehensive research findings on changes to eating behaviour can be found in the Scottish Health Education Population Survey (www.hebs.com/researchcentre/pdf/HEPSFinalReport211.pdf) and the Scottish Health Behaviours of Scottish Schoolchildren Survey www.hbsc.org/countries/downloads_countries/Scotland?Briefing_Paper_3.pdf). The Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency also recently published the report of a working group investigating methods for nutritional surveillance in Scotland and the joint response of the Executive and FSA to its recommendations is also published (Report- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/health/msdt-00.aspResponse
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/health/msdtr-00.asp.)
Further information will be available in October 2005 with the publication of the latest Scottish Health Survey which reports on the health of the entire population and includes information on diet.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-14722 by reference.