Informed

Informed is our quarterly newsletter aimed at health professionals. It brings you the latest news on diet, lifestyle and cancer prevention. The information is based on science and is reviewed by a team of experts. We also feature articles on new programmes and Government recommendations and how you can use them in your everyday practice. Read our latest issue or download past issues.

The latest issue of Informed is now available and you can read the articles online or download the PDF.

Health inequalities: making a difference in the community
Despite huge investments, health and cancer inequalities in the UK are still a major problem for the NHS. Here we talk about policy needs for reducing inequalities in certain areas and what health professionals can do to improve the health of hard-to-reach communities.

Obesity rates still high in adults and teenagers
The Health Survey for England (HSE) 2008 shows prevalence of obesity among two- to 10-year-olds is levelling off. However, the HSE for children aged 11 to 15 and for adults show obesity rates are still high.

Physical activity: focus on different benefits and motivations
for different age groups
The latest report from the Chief Medical Officer, On the state of public health, highlights the benefits of physical activity for longevity and disease prevention and emphasises the importance of developing effective interventions to increase activity levels in specific age groups.

WCRF UK supports National Breastfeeding Awareness Week
This year National Breastfeeding Awareness Week (NBAW) will run from 21st to 27th June. The event is a great opportunity for health professionals to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and to support mothers.

New evidence that fast-food taxes could cut obesity
New evidence to support the potential health benefits of taxing high energy-dense foods and drinks has been published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. The 20-year longitudinal study shows that the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes decreased in people living in communities where fast-food prices increased.

5 A DAY and cancer prevention: the truth behind the headlines
In April there was extensive media coverage of a study that seemed to suggest eating fruits and vegetables does little to help prevent cancer. Dr Rachel Thompson, Science Programme Manager for World Cancer Research Fund, discusses the findings of the study and explains why our Recommendations on plant-based diets remain unchanged.