The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7390 p254
4 March 2006

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Childhood obesity a target for the profession

The Government's ability to fulfil its public service agreement (PSA) “to halt the increase in obesity among children under the age of 11 by 2010” has been called into question in a joint report published this week by the Audit Commission, the Healthcare Commission and the National Audit Office.

The report warns that the organisations involved in delivering the child obesity PSA target (first set in July 2004) have been unclear about their roles because the Government has delayed publishing the key ingredients of its delivery plan — now not expected until May.

Gul Root, principal pharmaceutical officer at the Department of Health, highlighted the opportunities raised by PSA targets at a Young Pharmacists Group conference held in Birmingham last weekend. She said that the targets are challenging but non-negotiable commitments that the Government needs to carry out.

Mrs Root spoke of “pharmacy premises becoming a venue for public health”, and said that pharmacists have a real opportunity to contribute to public health through PSA targets such as those for smoking, under-18 conception rates and obesity among children.