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| Diet advice on dairy food – and how to improve what poor children eat | Diet advice on dairy food – and how to improve what poor children eat |
| (2 months later) | |
| I was recently studying the Lancet paper referred to in your report (Dairy food may protect the heart, study finds, 12 September). As you state, the paper appears to conflict with previous research, and to national dietary advice springing from this, about dietary fats. However, there is an explanation: most previous research had taken place in rich countries in Europe and North America, where dietary fats have contributed 30-45% of total calories consumed, while this new research has taken place mainly in poor or middle-income countries, where fat consumption may be as low as 7% of calories, with calorie content made up by much greater consumption of carbohydrates. | I was recently studying the Lancet paper referred to in your report (Dairy food may protect the heart, study finds, 12 September). As you state, the paper appears to conflict with previous research, and to national dietary advice springing from this, about dietary fats. However, there is an explanation: most previous research had taken place in rich countries in Europe and North America, where dietary fats have contributed 30-45% of total calories consumed, while this new research has taken place mainly in poor or middle-income countries, where fat consumption may be as low as 7% of calories, with calorie content made up by much greater consumption of carbohydrates. |
| This new research shows that very high consumption of carbohydrates, or very low levels of fat consumption, are associated with increased risk of some cardiovascular diseases; however, saturated fat consumption was not so associated. But we should not really be puzzled by this: most dietary advice in Europe aims to reduce saturated fat consumption to 10% of calories; if total fat consumption in poor countries is lower than 10% of calories, why should we worry about saturated fats? | This new research shows that very high consumption of carbohydrates, or very low levels of fat consumption, are associated with increased risk of some cardiovascular diseases; however, saturated fat consumption was not so associated. But we should not really be puzzled by this: most dietary advice in Europe aims to reduce saturated fat consumption to 10% of calories; if total fat consumption in poor countries is lower than 10% of calories, why should we worry about saturated fats? |
| This new research teaches us new knowledge, in particular that very low fat diets, and diets where carbohydrate intake exceeds 60% of total calories, are both related to increased cardiovascular risk. However, these findings do not negate the many papers showing that diets containing excess saturated fat are associated with raised serum LDL cholesterol and increased cardiovascular risk. So current dietary advice in Europe should not be challenged or changed, although it is now very evident that dietary advice which is appropriate here should not be exported to poorer parts of the world, with very different dietary environments.Dr Christopher BirtHonorary clinical senior lecturer, department of public health and policy, University of Liverpool | This new research teaches us new knowledge, in particular that very low fat diets, and diets where carbohydrate intake exceeds 60% of total calories, are both related to increased cardiovascular risk. However, these findings do not negate the many papers showing that diets containing excess saturated fat are associated with raised serum LDL cholesterol and increased cardiovascular risk. So current dietary advice in Europe should not be challenged or changed, although it is now very evident that dietary advice which is appropriate here should not be exported to poorer parts of the world, with very different dietary environments.Dr Christopher BirtHonorary clinical senior lecturer, department of public health and policy, University of Liverpool |
| • Jack Monroe’s opinion piece (The healthiest menu for poor people? An extra helping from government? 6 September) puts the spotlight on a couple of initiatives that need to be revisited to ensure they are fit for purpose. | • Jack Monroe’s opinion piece (The healthiest menu for poor people? An extra helping from government? 6 September) puts the spotlight on a couple of initiatives that need to be revisited to ensure they are fit for purpose. |
| What is going to happen to the revenue generated by the sugary drinks levy? At the moment the government has not committed for any further revenue raised to go to good causes to improve children’s health beyond the next year. This is absurd, when the need is there to support better school food, increasing free school meals and initiatives such as Healthy Start. | What is going to happen to the revenue generated by the sugary drinks levy? At the moment the government has not committed for any further revenue raised to go to good causes to improve children’s health beyond the next year. This is absurd, when the need is there to support better school food, increasing free school meals and initiatives such as Healthy Start. |
| Over 80% of people are not eating enough vegetables, and those on lower incomes eat half a portion less. The value of Healthy Start food vouchers hasn’t been updated since 2009 and languishes at £3.10 per week, so this is an obvious place to invest to ensure pregnant women and young children consume more vegetables. | Over 80% of people are not eating enough vegetables, and those on lower incomes eat half a portion less. The value of Healthy Start food vouchers hasn’t been updated since 2009 and languishes at £3.10 per week, so this is an obvious place to invest to ensure pregnant women and young children consume more vegetables. |
| Healthy Start is in need of a shake-up. It’s not just the value of the vouchers that needs revisiting. Firstly, due to lack of promotion and the complexities of the application process, uptake is low. The First Steps Nutrition Trust estimates that in 2017 alone, families missed out on £41.6m. This is money that could be spent by families in need and injected in the local economy. Secondly, eligibility has been declining since the scheme was first introduced in 2006, even though 4 million children are now too poor to have a healthy diet. Coupled with the low uptake, this means the budget allocated to Healthy Start is underspent every year. Where does it all go? | Healthy Start is in need of a shake-up. It’s not just the value of the vouchers that needs revisiting. Firstly, due to lack of promotion and the complexities of the application process, uptake is low. The First Steps Nutrition Trust estimates that in 2017 alone, families missed out on £41.6m. This is money that could be spent by families in need and injected in the local economy. Secondly, eligibility has been declining since the scheme was first introduced in 2006, even though 4 million children are now too poor to have a healthy diet. Coupled with the low uptake, this means the budget allocated to Healthy Start is underspent every year. Where does it all go? |
| These questions are firmly on our radar at Sustain through our campaigns and programmes, and we look forward to work collaboratively with our members and campaigners like Jack Monroe.Sofia ParenteCampaigns coordinator, Sustain | These questions are firmly on our radar at Sustain through our campaigns and programmes, and we look forward to work collaboratively with our members and campaigners like Jack Monroe.Sofia ParenteCampaigns coordinator, Sustain |
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