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Latest Blogs
- Improving what the world eats
by Richard Smith
- Andrew Lansley lead NHS Reform
by Julie Whittaker
- Food and Drink Federation Reception 2010
by Jamie Cronk
- Extreme Anti-Smoking Advert
by Jamie Cronk
- Investment in Innovation – a priority for patients
by Julie Whittaker
Marisa Pulaski's Blog
Country: United Kingdom
Organisation:
Blog link: http://www.3four50.com/blog/marisapulaski
'Snack-size' cigarette
4th Feb 2008
I just read an article which REALLY annoyed me. Philip Morris is coming out with a new 'snack-size' cigarette (about a third shorter than a normal cigarette) for smokers who, thanks to the smoking ban, don't want to get cold smoking a whole cigarette, but who don't want to waste their precious ciggies either. To make matters worse, it will still be packed with as much nicotine so smokers will get the same 'hit' for fewer puffs.
How infuriating!
Most recent comments
Most recent comment by Karen Siegel on 5th Feb 2008
Cultural perceptions of food and obesity
2nd Jan 2008
Happy New Year everyone! There is a really interesting feature on today's BBC News (2 January) which looks at how people from different countries around the world view food, meals and even obesity. It's worth reading if you get the chance. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/7154395.stm
Learning from climate change
19th Oct 2007
A report on obesity recently launched in the UK concluded that to tackle the growing problem of obesity, we should look at the fight against climate change as an example. Environmentalists have successfully unified many different stakeholders - from NGOs to governments to corporates - in order to make the changes needed across the whole of society.
A similar approach must be taken by the public health community. Not only can we learn from their approach, but in actual fact, many measures which will reduce levels of carbon emissions will also promote health. For example, if people stop taking their cars everywhere, this will reduce pollution and also encourage physical activity.
There is an interesting conference on climate change taking place in London next week, which OxHA will be attending. Although not touching on the subject of health, it will be interesting to see what approaches are being taken to combat this crisis. Here is a bit more info for anyone who might be interested in attending:
Climate change has moved firmly out of the scientific arena
and into the mainstream central to policy making, business
and investment decisions and provision of local public
services. Over the next decade and beyond, we will have to
adapt the way we live, work and consume in order to deal
with the inevitable consequences of our past behaviour on
our future environment and climate. At the same time, we
need to bring together innovative policy, technological and
public responses that will drive us towards the goal of a low
carbon economy.
Our domestic choices must also stand up to the global
challenge of limiting the worst consequences of climate
change for the most vulnerable parts of the world and helping
poorer countries benefit from modern standards of living.
Environmental futures 07 will combine international
perspectives from government, business, the investment
community and others, with interactive discussion and
problem solving. It will provide a major national platform for
debate on adapting to and mitigating climate change; the
risks and opportunities for the UK and global economy, and
practical solutions for a climate changed world.
For more info, visit neilstewartassociates.com/sw110
Scared of litigation, tobacco company splits
31st Aug 2007
Interesing...I've just read an article bout how Altria, the company that used to own Kraft (but got rid of it worried about litigation risk) is now going to formally split its international business, Philip Morris International (PMI) and its US operations (again worried about litigation risk).
Shrewd in business terms as the split gives PMI (almost 3/4 of Altria's tobacco revenue) a clean bill of health as its legal issues are almost entirely US-related. The US business already has 50% of the market share already and volumes are declining. However, the downside is that it will undoubtedly pump money into smokeless tobacco instead.
Plus, this now leaves PMI to continue bombarding the developing world with cigarettes. Bring on high taxes, warning labels and strict laws!
Preschool kids aware of McDonald's brand
7th Aug 2007
Food for thought.
Here is a summary of an article I've just read on Medical News Today. The findings are very interesting; however, I'm still not convinced whether banning food and drink marketing is totally the right approach. I think it's a bit more complex than that. Let me know what you think...
A new study out today shows just how ‘brand aware’ young children are, especially when it comes to food and drink. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California tested 63 children aged three and five to determine the effect that advertising has on their preferences. Each child was given a taste test of the same food – one in McDonald’s packaging and the second in generic packaging. Parents were then asked to fill out information about their child including how often they watched TV and how familiar they were with McDonald’s food and toys.
The results showed that:
On average, the children preferred the taste of the food and drink in the McDonald's packaging over the identical products in unmarked packaging. The result for hamburgers was 48.3 per cent vs. 36.7 per cent. For chicken nuggets the result was 59 per cent vs. 18 per cent. For baby carrots the result was 54.1 per cent vs. 23 per cent. For french fries the result was 76.7 per cent vs. 13.3 per cent. For milk or apple juice the result was 61.3 per cent vs. 21 per cent. Futher analysis showed that 4 out of 5 times, children preferred the taste of food and drink that they thought was from McDonald's. Preschool children who had more TV sets in their homes, and children who ate McDonald's foods more frequently were also more likely to prefer McDonald's branded food and drink to the identical unbranded items.The authors of the study noted that their findings suggest that there needs to be even tighter regulation on food and drink advertising of high calorie, low-nutrient food, if not a ban on all marketing that is aimed at young children.
Linking the natural environment and health
20th Jun 2007
On Monday, I went to a conference organised by Natural England which focused on health and the natural environment.
The conference had a wide range of interesting speakers including OxHA's very own Christine Hancock and the UK's Public Health Minister Caroline Flint (whose speech was incredibly inspirational).
The conference aimed to: Show delegates how shaping and using the natural environment is a powerful tool and how they can ensure public health strategies take the correct amount of consideration for the natural environment; Describe and explain the connection between climate change and obesity and other chronic diseases; Explore greater cross departmental work at a national level and better co-ordination between primary care trusts and local authorities will ensure that PSA targets around obesity, other chronic diseases and physical activity are met; Explain what part the natural environment has to play in increasing physical activity and reducing hospital admissions and the need for intensive care in the community, reducing the burden on NHS finances; Emphasise the importance of Health Impact Assessments and Environment Assessments, examining the key risk factors contributing to chronic disease and understanding the economic argument for prevention; Discuss how the natural environment can enhance communities and wellbeing and what communities must do to reduce their impact on climate change; Understand and prioritise the UK’s role as a Western leader in preventing climate change and using the environment to tackle some of the major health epidemics facing the 21st Century;The conference organisers used some very clever technology, which allowed for audience participation throughout the day. At different points of the conference, we were asked our views on a number of questions and at the end, we were able to vote for the initiatives we think Natural England should take forward in the future (e.g. identifying gaps in research highlighting the health benefits of the natural environment). There was an overall consensus that many different organisations and government departments need to be involved if we are to make real changes in promoting healthier lifestyles in the UK.
Most recent comments
Most recent comment by Marisa Pulaski on 21st Jun 2007
New website encouraging kids to eat healthy
29th May 2007
The World Cancer Research Fund has launched a new campaign using health conscious cartoon characters on its new website to encourage better eating and a more active lifestyle among its audience of four to seven year olds.
The website – the Great Grub Club – introduces children to fruits and vegetables they might not have tried before and teaches them how to prepare them in meals and even how to grow them in their gardens. It is being funded by the Department of Health in response to growing concerns from health professionals over childhood obesity levels. Currently, 92% of children in the UK eat too much saturated fat. The World Cancer Research Fund is concerned that children’s unhealthy eating habits will cause health complications later in life, because poor diet and lack of activity indirectly contribute to cancer risk through overweight and obesity.
50 million pound project
24th May 2007
Just came across a great initiative which was launched recently in the US.
Dr Ian Smith is leading a national programme to encourage people to drop pounds. He is particularly concerned with obesity among the US's African-American population. With the help of some celebrities, he's launched the 50 million pound challenge - people can join online at 50millionpounds.com to share the experience of shedding pounds and getting fit. The goal is for the collective weight loss of participants to reach 50 million pounds. Right now, they're closing in on 100,000 pounds.
To find out more, visit www.50millionpounds.com.
If there are similar initiatives going on in other countries, please blog about them or use the showcase channel to highlight the work you're doing.
If enough people take action, we can definitely make a difference.
Working out at work
16th May 2007
Sounds great but realistically, would anyone do this? What do you think?
From BBC News, 15 May 2007
"Obesity experts have developed a vertical workstation which helps employees take exercise and shed weight as they work.
The designers, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, said it could help obese people to lose up to 30kg a year.
Fifteen obese volunteers burned an average of 191 calories an hour using the treadmill, compared to 72 calories just sitting at their desk.
The study features in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The workstation, which is designed to be used for two to three hours a day, comprises a computer, keyboard and treadmill.
The steel frame of the device is shaped in the form of the letter "H" and is supported by four locking rubber wheels, so that it can be moved about easily.
The frame holds a Plexiglass panel on to which two adjustable arms are bolted - one to hold the computer screen and the other for the keyboard and mouse.
Slats provide storage for personal items such as flower vase, cup holder, pen holder or paper tray.
The adjustable design enables users to walk and work, stand and work, or, if the treadmill is replaced by a high chair, sit and work. The speed of the treadmill can also be adjusted by the user.
Sedentary jobs
The 14 men and one women who took part in the trials all had sedentary office jobs, and none took part in any regular exercise.
While using the workstation, they walked at the equivalent of one mile an hour.
Their energy expenditure while using the workstation for 35 minutes every hour was compared to that while working at their desk.
The researchers said: "If sitting computer time were replaced by walking-and-working, energy expenditure could increase by 100 kcal (calories) per hour.
"Thus, if obese individuals were to replace time spent sitting at the computer with walking computer time by two to three hours a day, and if other components of energy balance were constant, a weight loss of 20-30 kilograms per year could occur."
Obesity rates are soaring across much of the developed world, and many people blame a hectic lifestyle for failing to make time to exercise.
An increase in sedentary leisure activities, such as using a computer, has also been blamed.
More than 12m adults and one million children in England alone will be obese by 2010 if no action is taken, a report by the Department of Health predicted last year.
John Brewer, director of the Lucozade Sports Science Academy, said: "The growing obesity epidemic is something that requires drastic action.
"This is clearly this is something that is slightly gimmicky and unusual, but if it is a way of getting people with sedentary lifestyles off of their backsides then that has got to be a good thing."
Mr Brewer said the workstation could potentially appeal to people who found pounding out miles on a treadmill tedious by allowing them to combine it with a more interesting activity.
The desks cost £1,000 each."
Most recent comments
Most recent comment by on 21st May 2007
Duty free
5th Dec 2006
As I was traveling from New York to London yesterday, it bothered me when I thought about how easy it was for people to buy cigarettes so inexpensively at duty free shops. Wouldn't it send a powerful message if an airline decided to ban cigarettes from its on-board duty-free sales or if an airport operator banned them from its duty-free shops?
It's wishful thinking to imagine it might happen, as I'm sure it generates quite a bit of revenue for airlines/ airports, but I'd like to see an end to duty-free cigarettes.