Health Secretary calls on supermarkets to tackle obesity
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the government will work with major supermarkets to make healthy food choices easier for consumers. He outlines plans to reduce calorie intake across the population, tackling rising obesity and easing pressure on the NHS without the need for additional taxes. .
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Weight loss consultant named finalist in national weight loss 'Oscars' awards
A weight loss consultant has been named a finalist in a national award scheme, known as the 'Slimming World Oscars'. Lisa Norris, who runs a Slimming World group at the Lysaght Institute in Newport, was shortlisted for Group of the Year in Slimming World's annual awards, which celebrate consultants who support members in losing weight and improving their wellbeing. Ms Norris said: "To be recognised and rewarded for doing a role that I love is so special. "Working for such an exceptional company as a franchisee, and as part of the South-Central Wales district, I couldn't be more honoured. "This recognition belongs to every person who has found the courage to walk into my group with their dream, and it is an honour to see these members grow in confidence week by week. "They are the ones who make our group the success that it is, with their friendship and support they give to each other weekly. "They make the group such a fun, safe, judgement-free place to be." Lisa Norris has been recognised as a finalist in the Slimming World 'Oscars' (Image: Supplied) Ms Norris, who supports more than 100 members each week, said she was "blown away" by the news that her group had made the finals. The phone call from her district manager, Scott Hawkins, left her in disbelief. She said: "I couldn't believe that the call was real, and asked, 'Are you sure?'" Alongside the finalist nomination, Ms Norris and her husband John were also selected to join Slimming World's annual all-expenses-paid consultants' trip. Lisa Norris and her husband John were also chosen to join Slimming World's all-expenses paid consultants' trip (Image: Supplied) In early May, the couple flew from Heathrow to Athens for a week of luxury in the exclusive Kolonaki district. Ms Norris said: "We were treated like celebrities, from the champagne reception, to the beautiful five-course evening meal with breath-taking views of the Acropolis, guided tours to the Temple of Poseidon, a hands-on cookery course, a Greek dancing lesson and sailing along the stunning coastline with an unforgettable evening of Greek food and dancing beneath the stars." The trip was Slimming World's 36th and the vision of the company's late founder, Margaret Miles Bramwell OBE, who died in February. Ms Norris said: "Margaret was always so excited to celebrate the achievements of her consultants and their members, taking part in each trip, planning and hosting every detail, so for this to be the first trip without her was an emotional one. "We did our best to keep her memory alive and remember that everything we do from here on in is to honour her and keep our promise to retain our commitment to helping as many people who need us in their weight loss journey." Slimming World is known for its supportive approach, offering encouragement not only to members but also to its consultants. Ms Norris was selected as a finalist for her "unwavering dedication" and "exceptional standards of service" in supporting both members and colleagues. She runs her award-winning group at the Lysaght Institute, Orb Drive, Newport, on Saturdays at 8am, 10am, and 11.30am. Details of how to join a local group or become a Slimming World consultant can be found at
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In Pictures: Race for Life at Stanmer Park
More than 2000 people turned up to Cancer Research UK's bumper weekend of Race for Life events. Held at Brighton's Stanmer Park, the Pretty Muddy run took place on Saturday (June 28) while the Race for Life took place on Sunday. On Saturday, 1,239 people took part in Race for Life 'Pretty Muddy', clambering over and under obstacles including a scramble net, tunnels, a climbing frame, space hoppers and a giant, inflatable slide into a very dirty mud bath. £100,707 raised was raised at the Pretty Muddy event. On Sunday, 720 walked, jogged or ran 3k, 5k or 10k distances around the park. Around 800 people took part in the three events and £79,124 was raised. In total, 1,958 people participated across the weekend and £179,831 was raised – significantly more than the £145,000 that was estimated. The money will be used for Cancer Research UK's life-saving work, including projects being funded at the University of Sussex. Matthew White and Faye Louise (Image: Supplied) Among those at Sunday's event was dad of two from Brighton, Matthew White, who has an incurable brain tumour. He spoke passionately about his own story and thanked all those taking part for helping to make life better for future cancer patients. Former Horsham model and cancer survivor, Faye Louise, was also on hand to dish out medals to runners as they crossed the line. Crawley's Tilgate Park is hosting the same Race for Life events on July 19. Lynn Daly, Cancer Research UK's spokesperson in Sussex, said: 'Brighton did us proud, with 1,300 people literally throwing themselves into the mud on Saturday, and another 800 running and jogging through the heat on Sunday. 'We're immensely grateful to everyone who took part and to the volunteers who gave up their weekends to help us put the events on and make sure everyone was safe. 'No matter how cancer affects us, life is worth racing for. Sadly nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime but all of us can support the research that will beat it. We're proud that Race for Life has had such a positive impact. Every pound raised supports our life-saving work, which has helped double cancer survival in the UK over the last 50 years.'
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Supermarkets could face fines for failing healthy eating targets in obesity crackdown
Supermarkets and takeaways could be fined if they do not sell healthier food, under new government plans to tackle the obesity epidemic. All large businesses will report their sales of healthy food under the policy, part of a 10-year plan for the NHS unveiled next week. Targets will then be set to increase the amount sold, with penalties used as a last resort for companies who refuse to work with ministers to reduce the crisis. Initially developed by innovation agency Nesta, the policy introduces mandatory health targets for retailers while giving them flexibility in how to meet them, such as by tweaking recipes, running price promotions on healthier items, or redesigning store layouts. Supermarkets will be required to report sales data and those that fail to hit targets could face financial penalties, Nesta suggested. Cutting out just 50 calories a day could lift 340,000 children and two million adults out of obesity. Health secretary Wes Streeting said that when it comes to obesity 'unless we curb the rising tide of cost and demand, the NHS risks becoming unsustainable', adding: 'Through our new healthy food standard, we will make the healthy choice the easy choice, because prevention is better than cure.' Anna Taylor, the executive director of the Food Foundation charity, said: 'The introduction of mandatory reporting by all large food companies, including takeaway chains, on the healthiness of their food sales is a game-changer. The data will also clearly reveal to consumers which businesses are on their side and making healthy choices easy, and which are making it actively harder for them to eat well. The faster this is introduced, the better.' Sue Davies, from consumer group Which?, said: 'Mandatory food targets will help to incentivise retailers to use the range of tactics available to them to make small but significant changes – making it easier for people to eat a balanced diet and lead healthier lives.' Ministers argue a healthier nation will put less strain on the NHS, helping to drive down pressure on sky-high waiting lists. As part of the move, retailers including supermarkets will work to make the average shopping basket slightly healthier. The Department of Health said that if all those who were overweight cut down on what they ate by 216 calories, the equivalent of one fizzy drink, the UK's obesity crisis could be halved. Richard Holden, Tory shadow paymaster general, said: 'Making it harder to find crisps is not a substitute for proper reform. Labour ministers are too scared to face up to the fundamental changes our NHS needs. 'In government, the Conservatives made real progress on obesity, stabilising adult rates and cutting child obesity to its lowest since 2000. But we've always believed the best results come when people are trusted to take responsibility for their own health. 'Rearranging meal deals will make little difference. This is the worst type of nanny state nonsense there is – shallow, distracting, and completely unserious.' Britain has the third highest rate of adult obesity in Europe, costing the NHS £11.4bn a year – three times the budget for ambulance services. An upcoming report by the chief medical officer will show that more than 1 in 5 children are obese by the time they leave primary school, rising to almost 1 in 3 in areas of poverty and deprivation. Colette Marshall, chief executive at Diabetes UK, said: 'The introduction of mandatory reporting and targets on healthy food sales is crucial to improving transparency within the food industry and ensuring businesses can be held to account. 'Public health policies like this, and the junk food marketing ban, have the power to shift the dial from sickness to prevention. The government must build on these commitments in order to stem the alarming rise in type 2 diabetes and its life-altering complications.'
