A third of Britain's children and two thirds of adults are currently either overweight or obese. To fight the problem, the Government has set up Change4Life, a grass roots movement which will launch in January 2009. Prior to the launch, the Department of Health is looking to recruit people who are active in their local community – such as running after school clubs - to drive awareness of the long-term risks of childhood obesity and support families in changing their lifestyles.

Unless urgent action is taken, it is predicted that over half of adults will be obese by 2050 - that's today's children. Change4Life aims to encourage families to be more active, eat better and live longer and signing up means being at the heart of one of the biggest movements our nation has ever seen.

Clear advice and support will be provided via community resources, guidance from local health professionals, web tools, and television programming. Local supermarkets will supply food and recipe ideas and suggestions on creative ways to travel to and from work or school.

Will Cavendish from the Department of Health and children's activist Cathy Court, Co-founder, Netmums are hosting a webchat in which they'll be answering your questions about childhood obesity and Change4Life, telling you everything you need to know about this vital initiative. Local community workers and volunteers are presently being called upon to join the movement, adding their support to teachers, heath professionals, charities, business, Government and scientists. If you'd like to get involved, log on to the chat and find out how you can play a part in making a better future for Britain's children.

For more information visit www.nhs.uk/change4life

H: Lis Speight, host
W: Will Cavendish, Department of Health
C: Cathy Court, Children's Activist

H: Hello and welcome to the Healthcare Show, I'm Lis Speight. Now did you know that a third of Britain's children and two thirds of adults are currently either overweight or obese? To fight the problem, the Government has set up Change4Life, which is an innovative national campaign which aims to draw upon various sections of the community including teachers, health professionals, charities and local businesses to help tackle this national problem. Now joining me today to talk about this issue, and discuss the aims and how Change 4 Life will work, I'm pleased to say I'm joined by Will Cavendish from the Department of Health, welcome along Will

W: Thank you

H: And also children's health activist Cathy Court – welcome Cathy, it's great to see you both today. Now childhood obesity is on the increase, we've heard that Will. Why is it such a big problem?

W: Well frankly Lis, as a nation we're getting fatter. As you said already one third of children are overweight or obese, and two thirds of men and women are already overweight and obese, and it's getting worse

H: That is staggering actually isn't it?

W: It's a huge figure, it's a huge figure. Most countries round the world are facing the same kind of problem – in America, Australia, France, Germany – we're all getting bigger. And the problem is that it has real health costs. It's not just looking bigger, being chubby, if a child is overweight or obese they're more likely to die earlier than they otherwise would.  They're more likely to get diabetes, heart disease, cancer. So there's a real health consequence of this terrible rise in childhood obesity

H: So it actually matters to be fat then, it's not just sort of a visual thing?

W: It's not just how you look, it's not just your clothes' size, it's not just whether you're cuddly, it's not whether you're being teased in the playground although that's very important, it's that there are real health consequences and sadly a lot of mums and dads don't recognise that their children are overweight or obese, and a lot of people don't know that there's a real health cost. Now of course tackling this is a big, big problem for us all in the country and it's something that government can't do alone and it's something that individuals can't do alone. That's why we've all got to be part of it, and that's why we're setting up Change 4 Life.  It's a national movement in which we'll all be able to play our part and combat the problem

H: Ok so tell us a little bit about this Change 4 Life then, what's it all about?

W: Well Change 4 Life will do a number of things, the first thing it'll do is it will provide really helpful advice and guidance to parents, the sorts of things that mums and dads can do in their daily life to help their children to eat more healthily.  The second thing it will do is it'll get almost everybody that we can, local activists, community organisations, the supermarkets, TV companies, all joined up to be part of this movement.  Because if you're a mum or a dad and you want to change, you want to have lots of things locally available to you

H: Yes

W: A football club, a cycling club, a swim club, a cooking club, an eating club, after school – all part of this big campaign to help people change their lives. And then of course at the national level the government's putting in money behind a big social marketing campaign, the biggest the government's ever run to provide the advice and guidance that people need to help their lives

H: Ok. Now Cathy do you think that parents really worry about this?

C: Yes they do, but they've got certain barriers that they need to cross to be able to actually get their families healthier, and sometimes that makes things difficult.  You know they might be very busy, it might be that both parents are working, they might not have that much money and consider that extra exercise and healthy eating is expensive which it doesn't have to be. They've got the junk food issue, you know junk food's very tantalising for children, the way it's marketed -

H: And there's a lot of peer pressure as well isn't there – and adverts on the telly as to what kids should be eating?

C: That's right and so you've got the pester power which – it is just another barrier that parents have to cross to actually get their family from sort of not doing enough exercise and not eating properly into a good, healthy lifestyle. But it's not impossible and we say that you know if you just take small steps in both - walking to school for example, exercise – it doesn't have to be expensive it could just be playing Frisbee in the park. And on the eating side again just small steps that won't upset the children too much

H: Yes

C: And everyone will engage with. You know maybe drinking a little bit more water or swapping unhealthy snacks for snacks – healthy snacks – once – every day. Little things will make the difference in the long term

H: And do you think it's going to be easy to get parents on board to this Change 4 Life?

C: Yes I do because we know that there's lots of people and organisations responsible for weight issues, but parents very much know that they're at the heart of it, and they want to be involved, it's just making it easier for them, so we give them the information, on Netmums we've got a lot of information about how to make these easy, changes to healthy eating, and how to get out there and we've got all the local classes listed, for exercise classes – for children and adults. So they've got the information there now and the help advice with Change 4 Life so they will, I'm sure –

H: There's no excuse

C: Well it's just making it easier within their busy lives and I think yes the information and help is out there

H: It's actually quite difficult to get your children to eat healthy though sometimes isn't it? I mean my little girl, she's a very, very good eater but they're not all good eaters, some of them are really fussy eaters aren't they? We've had a question in actually from John Dalton, he says "how can I teach my children to eat healthily and enjoy it?" Ok, that's a big one isn't it?

C: Well it's so difficult, and I've been through it as well with a fussy eater, and a partially fussy eater, and there's lots of information on the site, lovely examples from mums, real things that have helped, and with some families it will be something, other families it will be a different thing that will help. A little gem of information. But my big bit if advice is to just relax really and chill out and don't worry to much if they're not eating healthily, just change little things at a time and don't worry – because we have a lot of people on the site who are very worried about their fussy eaters, whether they're eating a decent meal throughout the week, and also other people that say they just have total nightmare meal times

H: It's very stressful actually isn't it?

C: It is, it really can be – mums actually dread supper time coming up. Fathers say they're not going to eat with the family because it's so awful, so it really does take over the family life, but the thing to remember is it usually does pass, children are – tend to be naturally reluctant to try different things, so there's lots of things that you can do, it's all on the site, but you know making it fun, keeping it light-hearted, don't get too anxious yourself about it, and it'll improve. You can do things like making little faces on the plate. My daughter, until quite an old age actually, quite liked having you know the airplane coming in and – or different –

H: And if it works for you then why not try. But the Change 4 Life I guess is – it's not just about being at home, it's about getting everyone involved isn't it Will?

W: That's right it is, and it's about food, and of course it's about activity as well. Lots of children spend too much time in front of the TV, and they spend too much time on what I call sedentary activities, playing video games, and there's nothing wrong with that – in moderation. But it's also fun to go out with the kids and kick a ball in the park, or play Frisbee or just walk, or cycle together

H: Do you think we've sort of lost the art really of playing with our kids, because both parents work and there's so many pressures on our time isn't there?

W: There is and it's understandable why that happens, but our research tells us that lots of kids say I'd love to play with my dad more. Why doesn't he switch off the television and –

H: Well exactly

W: You're probably doing what your kids want you to do. And think when they grow up – what will they remember? I remember the day we played conkers together. I remember the day you were kicking the leaves around.  So it's also about having fun and having memorable days with your kids and it'll help their health too. But of course you're right that what we want to do is in every local area have as much of this as possible, and that's why today we're asking as many local groups as possible to sign up to Change 4 Life. They can go to the website which is www.change4life.co.uk

H: That's a 4, number 4?

W: That's the number 4

H: We'll give you that at the end

W: That's right. And there's a phone number as well which you can give at the end, and if you sign up to that you'll be becoming part of this big, national movement. You'll get help, expert advice, how to run events. You'll feel part of this broader group, and then this will snowball and by next year we'll see big national campaigns and big national events that really helps people make the changes they need to keep their children healthy

H: Yes ok. Well it's all worth getting involved in isn't it? We've had plenty of questions in and there's one from June. She says "I struggle to get my kids away from the Playstation" – which is what Will was just talking about actually. "Can you suggest some fun and exciting activities I can offer them to break their connection with our TV?" Well maybe you ought to break the connection by taking the fuse out. I often wonder about that. What sort of things could we be doing in order to – Autumn's quite a good time actually to –

C: Yes

H: Get out and about isn't it?

C: Very good – kite flying, fantastic, if you've got the winds there, and it's lovely because it joins everyone together. Something simple like walking to school is, you know part of your routine. If you can get it into your daily routine then it's fantastic

H: Get up a bit earlier

C: Yes, well sometimes people actually – takes as long

H: Quicker!

C: Yes. Or cycle, get children on the bikes, they love that little bit of independence. But you know Playstation's ok, just maybe have to limit it to an hour or whatever you feel is right for your aged children. But yes loads of free things that you can do out there

H: Yes. Picking out conkers,

C: Conkers!

H: That's what I was doing with my little girl yesterday

C: Yes conkers, excellent, yes.

H: But not everyone has outdoor space do they, we've had a question in from Jane actually who says "we live in a council block and there's very little green space, or any areas where kids can play. I don't want my son playing in the street but it seems that the alternative is that he stays inside all day. He's 9 and I already think he's not getting nearly enough exercise. What can I do?" Any tips?

C: Yes

H: After school clubs, things like that?

C: Yes it is difficult but there will be parks around, but then I guess she would need to go with her 9 year old, but that would be fun, that would get her out as well. But yes there are a lot of local clubs and classes around, you know a football class, any sort of sports class is great, or maybe you know 9 – maybe a little bit young – but my 11 year old is starting to get a little bit more independent and he's going out with a group of people and just going out for half an hour and having a play in the park

H: Yes so it maybe gets easier as they get a little bit older.

C: Yes

H: I suppose that there are free things that you can do because these football clubs and things maybe they cost money. What would you advise people who haven't got very much money and don't have much space. How do you get your kids active?

W: I know it can be really difficult can't it but it is free to go for a walk, it's free to go for a run. Very often local areas have places to explore that people don't know about. One of the reasons we want to be a national movement, we want so many local partners to sign up is that often people feel so isolated, on their own, they feel like they are doing good things but they are all on their own.

H: Why bother it is only my little thing. They are going to have bad food at school whereas if everyone works together...

W: Absolutely. Of course that is why it is so important that we do this all together. You mentioned earlier adverts for junk food on TV. Now of course the government in that last couple of years has banned the advertisement of what we call unhealthy foods around children's programmes. We have taken fizzy drinks and we have taken crisps and chocolate out of school vending machines. So that is the bit we are doing to try and create a healthy environment for children. It is about what each of us can do, the individuals, the community groups and the government all together. We want lots of people to sign up so that if a parent goes on to the website and has a look they see lots of local activities that are available. That is an important reason for people to get involved.

H: Why do you think obesity is on the rise in Britain? Is it a British thing? Are we a bit rubbish?

W: It is not. The sad thing is that every country in the world is facing this terrible challenge. The Americans, we used to laugh at the Americans and now we are facing the same problem. They have got the same challenge a third of their children are overweight. In Germany in France, the Mediterranean diet was meant to protect you but even there it is happening as well.

H: Too much olive oil.

W: The simple reason is that people are eating too many calories and they are not having enough exercise. There are lots of reasons why that is happening but at the heart of it, it is quite simple what is going on.

H: Do you think it is a generational thing. Is it simply because we have got too many cars, we are not doing manual labour. I still don't really understand why this has happened, it is a difficult one isn't it.?

C: It is difficult because there are so many different factors affecting it. I think it has happened not just in the last generation but since the war things have changed. We have had a gradual increase in the use of cars and we have had a gradual increase in the amount of convenience food we have eaten. We don't know how much fat or sugar we are eating when we eat these things.

H: We are not cooking from scratch any more.

C: That's right. So you are just oblivious to the type of fat and how much fat and because of that our pallets have slightly changed as well. So we are actually getting used to wanting more sugar and salt.

H: You crave salt if you don't have it don't you?

C: Yes. I mean luckily the government has got involved and reduced the amount of salt that is being used in ready meals so it can be done and they are about to do the same with saturated fats. So yes it is just a gradual change that has impacted on it and it is basically as Will says a decrease in the amount of exercise and an increase in the amount of the wrong foods.

H: Now we have had a question from a teacher, she says "Hi there I am a teacher. I think this campaign is a great idea; the problem I find is that parents stuff lunchboxes with bad food. What advice can you give?" That is a difficult one isn't it because...but if you get parents involved as well. Will, how do you stop parents sending their kids to school with loads of chocolate and crisps in their lunchbox.

W: It is tricky isn't it? I understand the problem that teachers in schools face. They feel they are giving healthier food now in canteens, but they see parents not helping out and of course we will all be familiar with those stories after the Jamie Oliver effect where we had mums pushing burgers through the railings. That is a challenge and is one of the reasons why giving good advice to parents is so important. As I was saying lots of parents don't understand that if their child is overweight or obese they will be a real health consequence. Once they understand, once they realise a lot of people want to change. So I think we do feel the change 4 life campaign is one that will give parents that information and then we will support teachers in schools. They are doing the right thing in trying to promote the health of their children. The other thing is that there is lots of advice available to schools and to parents about healthy lunchboxes. Try and swap your packet of crisps for some carrot sticks or an apple. Just try and change the little things, little by little.

H: You just lose the taste for it I guess. If you are used to having a packet of crisps every day for your lunch and if it is not there...

W: And that happens at large. Funny enough recently, picking up the salt issue, we had a complaint from the Spanish tourist board. They said that British holiday makers are going to Spain and they are complaining about the high levels of salt in the Spanish burgers.

C: Because their tastes are changing.

W: Exactly over time we are just getting used to having a little less salt each year, and now people going abroad think there is too much salt in those Spanish burgers, and the Spanish Tourist Authority is complaining about it. Over time we can make the difference.

H: We are already changing for life and we can do a lot more.

W: Absolutely. It has built up over 30 years and it will take time to turn around. If people do make those changes, if government supports us and if companies too are helping us then we will turn this around.

H: So if people want to get involved how do they go about it?

W: Well they can sign up at the website which I will give at the end. They can call the phone line. I am sure you will give the number again at the end. They can start making those changes. If they join that they will see expert advice, they will see lots of tips and advice and guidance on how to change their lives. Lots of activities they can start creating or be part of.

H: So Cathy what does this mean for our children if we do actually get involved in this and we do actually change our habits.

C: Well it is not just that they are not going to get diabetes or heart disease so often. They are actually going to have a better quality of life as they are growing up and also the same for the parents. Better quality of life, they will have more confidence, they will be able to concentrate better at school, they will look and feel fitter and healthier. It will make a difference to their daily lives.

H: Well thanks very much to Will and Cathy for coming in. it has been really interesting stuff. It is definitely worth getting on board the Change 4 Life campaign. They are our kids after all and we want to ensure that they have a healthy happy and a slim future. So if you want to get involved, and please do, you can go to the website which is www.change4life.co.uk. Well thanks for watching the show today and we will see you very soon. Bye Bye.