I am currently in the middle of a personal crusade. I am a dietitian, living in Gibraltar with small children. In my 2 and a half years here with small kids, I have attended all the playgroups regularly, visited play areas, used 2 private nurseries and now have a child at nursery school. I therefore have a reasonable grasp of the way things are here regarding weaning habits, snacking, eating habits, common snacks, food outlets, popular foods, eating patterns and weights.
I am becoming increasingly aware that, like a most other countries in the world, Gibraltar is aswell having problems with excessive weight and what worries me most is when this occurs in young children.
Therefore, I decided to initially focus on playgroups, to recommend introducing a healthy eating policy for snack time, advise on better snacks and drinks, and help communicate this to parents.
I follow all current guidance from the UK, For early years childcare settings and feeding young children. Primarily, Caroline walker trust, school food trust, dept. Of education, Dept. Of health, Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, British Heart Foundation, Infant and Toddler nutrition Forum & Scottish Executive.
After nearly completely this nutrition makeover for Monkey Capers playgroup, Chilton Court, Parent and Child Society & Trinity Toddler Group. I realised I should roll this out to private nurseries and creches, and then state nurseries.
As I am only one person, in a part-time, voluntary capacity, I restrict my work to:
Introducing the idea, and achieving the ‘Iamb interested in this, let’s do it’ face from the setting!
Providing healthy eating policy and getting it agreed.
Communicating this to parents if requested, usually by letter and noticeboard.
Providing a mini- audit of current practise regarding snacks and meals
Advising on suggested changes.
Providing ideas for meals, snacks and drinks.
I need support and help! Therefore wherever I go, be it school, nursery, supermarket, playgroup or playground I preach.
The GHA here has very limited funds for health promotion, they are aware of the problems of overweight, obesity, poor eating habits, but are restricted due to money and staffing.
Yes, it is therefore up to famines together to make healthier more informed food decisions, but pressure and encouragement to change must also come from schools, food industry, media, government, sports councils, every stakeholder in a community.
Obesity was first identified as a huge problem by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1997, 14 years ago. Five years later they urged each government to consider steps to reduce the risk of the diseases associated with obesity. In the UK obesity became a policy priority in 2004. Recent reports suggest that the rise in obesity has not been quashed. Softly softly approach has not worked, and policy of nudging or nanny state type policies are heavily criticised. essentially current thinking is an analysis of the whole ‘obesogenic environment’ at a macro level, taking the pressure off the individual. Every stakeholder is implicated! As members of a community we are ALL therefore involved in thus problem. If we care about our children, our partners, family, friends and neighbours and ultimately the state of our health service, we must all get involved. Obesity related health issues costs health services across the world and in Gibraltar billions, particularly as most problems occur in mid to late life and are chronic.
