With increasing levels of childhood obesity, improving people’s knowledge about the importance of a balanced diet is essential, writes Michelle Howard, tackling obesity manager at The Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust (HOB TPCT). People are often confused about conflicting messages around diet and nutrition in the media and from health professionals - 5 A DAY Just Eat More (Fruit & Veg) is one message that is clear and consistent. As a new 5 A DAY partner, HOB TPCT is using the Department of Health’s logo in various ways to support initiatives aimed at preventing and treating childhood obesity.

HOB TPCT currently promotes the 5 A DAY message through a number of healthy eating and weight management programmes. For instance, Watch-It, our weight management programme for obese children and their families, uses the 5 A DAY message to encourage increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.

We use the 5 A DAY logo on health promotion materials, such as leaflets, flyers and posters and even fridge magnets and pens, which are given out in schools to ensure that children take the 5 A DAY message home with them.

Working in partnership with Aston Villa Football Club, HOB TPCT has developed the Villa Vitality programme, aimed at increasing levels of physical activity and health. The programme gives inner-city schoolchildren the opportunity to visit Aston Villa Football Club, where they work with coaches and teachers to understand the importance of diet and exercise. During interactive classroom sessions, children learn about 5 A DAY and discuss their understanding of what it means and what a healthy balanced diet looks like. They also participate in a game which teaches them about the sugar and fat contents in popular foods and drink.

Another programme through which we promote the 5 A DAY message is the Face Fruits Programme. This is an initiative in which local women have been trained to deliver interactive sessions in schools to increase understanding of the benefits of eating fresh produce, portion sizes and variety. Children take part in fruit and vegetable face painting and receive certificates displaying their photograph and three key health messages, one of which is to eat at least five different portions of fruit and veg a day.

HOB TPCT’s Schools Dietician also runs a number of activities across Heart of Birmingham schools, such as assemblies, classroom sessions and parent sessions, in which she talks to children, teachers and parents about the importance of eating 5 A DAY. During her school visits, she has reported excellent awareness and knowledge about 5 A DAY - it is definitely a public health message that people seem to have taken on board.

In short, HOB TPCT supports the 5 A DAY programme because it’s good to have a positive “eat more” nutritional message behind us and because it’s a health message that is really worth shouting about.

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