Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to merits of introducing a public and private sector partnership aiming to increase the consumption of wholegrain foods.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Currently in the United Kingdom, there is no agreed definition for wholegrain or wholegrain foods. Therefore, wholegrain consumption cannot be monitored in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. At its horizon scan meeting in June 2022 the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) agreed that it would be useful to consider a definition for wholegrain and added it to its future work programme due to start Summer 2023.
SACN’s Carbohydrates and Health report published in 2015 provides strong evidence on dietary fibre and positive health outcomes, but for wholegrains and health outcomes the evidence was mixed and SACN has questioned whether any beneficial effect from wholegrain may be due to the fibre content. Fibre is found in a range of foods and is not exclusive to wholegrain foods. Based on SACN’s findings, Government recommends that adults consume 30 grams of dietary fibre each day and that this should be achieved through a variety of food sources.
Government dietary advice, as depicted by the UK’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, is that we should choose wholegrain or higher fibre versions of starchy carbohydrates wherever possible. This advice aims to increase population intakes of fibre. This is because in the UK, there is no quantitative recommendation for dietary wholegrain consumption, whereas there is a specific Government recommendation for dietary fibre consumption. The Government continues to promote the Eatwell Guide principles through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and our social marketing campaigns, Better Health and Healthier Families.
There are no current plans to introduce a public and private sector partnership aimed at increasing the consumption of wholegrain foods.
Authorised nutrition and health claims related to fibre can be used by food business operators on food products, pursuant to retained Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, as amended by the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
All authorised and rejected nutrition and health claims are included in the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register (GB NHC Register), other than those health claims authorised on the basis of proprietary data which will be recorded in a separate Annex to the GB NHC Register. The GB NHC Register, and the separate Annex, are available in an online only format.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to introduce an agreed definition of wholegrain, and (2) to set a recommended daily amount for its consumption.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Currently in the United Kingdom, there is no agreed definition for wholegrain or wholegrain foods. Therefore, wholegrain consumption cannot be monitored in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. At its horizon scan meeting in June 2022 the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) agreed that it would be useful to consider a definition for wholegrain and added it to its future work programme due to start Summer 2023.
SACN’s Carbohydrates and Health report published in 2015 provides strong evidence on dietary fibre and positive health outcomes, but for wholegrains and health outcomes the evidence was mixed and SACN has questioned whether any beneficial effect from wholegrain may be due to the fibre content. Fibre is found in a range of foods and is not exclusive to wholegrain foods. Based on SACN’s findings, Government recommends that adults consume 30 grams of dietary fibre each day and that this should be achieved through a variety of food sources.
Government dietary advice, as depicted by the UK’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, is that we should choose wholegrain or higher fibre versions of starchy carbohydrates wherever possible. This advice aims to increase population intakes of fibre. This is because in the UK, there is no quantitative recommendation for dietary wholegrain consumption, whereas there is a specific Government recommendation for dietary fibre consumption. The Government continues to promote the Eatwell Guide principles through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and our social marketing campaigns, Better Health and Healthier Families.
There are no current plans to introduce a public and private sector partnership aimed at increasing the consumption of wholegrain foods.
Authorised nutrition and health claims related to fibre can be used by food business operators on food products, pursuant to retained Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, as amended by the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and the Nutrition (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020.
All authorised and rejected nutrition and health claims are included in the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register (GB NHC Register), other than those health claims authorised on the basis of proprietary data which will be recorded in a separate Annex to the GB NHC Register. The GB NHC Register, and the separate Annex, are available in an online only format.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what data describes the differing causes of obesity (1) with and without malnutrition, and (2) in people of high and low economic placement.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Obesity is a complex problem caused by numerous factors, to which there is no single solution. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that body mass index (BMI) is used to assess obesity in adults and children. Additionally, it recommends the use of other validated obesity measures, such as waist circumference, to be undertaken alongside BMI for adults when assessing overweightness and obesity in individuals to give a more detailed assessment of an individual’s health risk.
Malnutrition as a broad term refers to deficiency, excess or imbalances of a person’s intake of calories, protein and other nutrients which causes measurable adverse effects on body composition, function or clinical outcome. The full definition of malnutrition therefore includes overnutrition which can lead to obesity, however, in the United Kingdom, the term is more commonly used to refer to a clinical condition involving undernutrition.
NICE advises that nutrition support should be considered in people who are malnourished, as defined by any of the following: a BMI of less than 18.5 kilograms/m2; unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within the last three to six months; or a BMI of less than 20 kilograms/m2 and unintentional weight loss greater than 5% within the last three to six months.
Someone can therefore be a healthy weight or have a BMI in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. The term ‘malnutrition’ is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to a poor diet; although this may put someone at increased risk of malnutrition, this would not necessarily meet the criteria for malnutrition.
Data is not collected on causes of obesity. Data from the Health Survey for England, 2021 and National Child Measurement Programme show obesity prevalence was lowest for those living in the least deprived areas and highest in the most deprived areas.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the criteria that distinguish obese citizens in England who are described as malnourished from other obese citizens who are not so described.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Obesity is a complex problem caused by numerous factors, to which there is no single solution. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that body mass index (BMI) is used to assess obesity in adults and children. Additionally, it recommends the use of other validated obesity measures, such as waist circumference, to be undertaken alongside BMI for adults when assessing overweightness and obesity in individuals to give a more detailed assessment of an individual’s health risk.
Malnutrition as a broad term refers to deficiency, excess or imbalances of a person’s intake of calories, protein and other nutrients which causes measurable adverse effects on body composition, function or clinical outcome. The full definition of malnutrition therefore includes overnutrition which can lead to obesity, however, in the United Kingdom, the term is more commonly used to refer to a clinical condition involving undernutrition.
NICE advises that nutrition support should be considered in people who are malnourished, as defined by any of the following: a BMI of less than 18.5 kilograms/m2; unintentional weight loss greater than 10% within the last three to six months; or a BMI of less than 20 kilograms/m2 and unintentional weight loss greater than 5% within the last three to six months.
Someone can therefore be a healthy weight or have a BMI in the overweight or obese categories but be identified through the NICE definition as potentially requiring nutrition support. The term ‘malnutrition’ is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to a poor diet; although this may put someone at increased risk of malnutrition, this would not necessarily meet the criteria for malnutrition.
Data is not collected on causes of obesity. Data from the Health Survey for England, 2021 and National Child Measurement Programme show obesity prevalence was lowest for those living in the least deprived areas and highest in the most deprived areas.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their general advice for (1) how much fat, and (2) what kind of fat, they recommend people eat; and what assessment they have made of the effect of exercise to weight reduction by comparison with reducing the number of calories in the diet.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Fats are an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. The Government’s dietary recommendations state that no more than 33% of total energy should come from fats, including no more than approximately 10% of total energy from saturated fats. The advice for the general population is to reduce intakes of saturated fats and replace with more unsaturated fats from sources such as oily fish, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, nuts and seeds.
Daily physical activity can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight and the prevention and management of certain diseases. This approach should place an emphasis on changing dietary behaviour to reduce calorie intake and support people to self-monitor and manage everyday challenging situations.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to safeguard access to psychosocial professionals for (1) paediatric, and (2) adult, cystic fibrosis patients in the UK.
Answered by Lord Kamall
NHS England’s adult and paediatric cystic fibrosis service specifications set out national standards, including the importance of access to multidisciplinary teams involving appropriately trained clinical psychologists and social workers. There are regular review meetings between the regional commissioning teams and providers to ensure compliance with service standards across the range of services commissioned.
Health Education England has supported a 60% expansion in the clinical psychology training intake over the past two years. Trainees can undertake specialist placements and upon qualification take up posts across a wide range of settings, including working with adults and children with cystic fibrosis.
The Government committed at least £500 million to develop and support the adult social care workforce over the next three years. We are ensuring a sufficient supply of social workers through measures such as support and development for a post-graduate mental health social work programme, the Education Support Grant and Social Work Bursaries.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are considering when revisiting the NHS Long Term Plan to address obesity in order (1) to improve cardiovascular health, and (2) to reduce dementia risk.
Answered by Lord Kamall
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and (2) the National Institute for Health and Care Research, about which lessons from the success of COVID-19 trials could be applied to improve the (a) approval, and (b) set-up process, for dementia trials.
Answered by Lord Kamall
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of a Dementia Medicines Taskforce to advance towards a disease-modifying treatment for dementia.
Answered by Lord Kamall
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord McColl of Dulwich (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the increases in childhood obesity during the COVID-19 lockdown, as shown by the National Child Measurement Programmes data for 2020 to 2021, published on 20 January, what plans they have to revise the Department of Health and Social Care’s advice on combating childhood obesity.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We continue to monitor progress and emerging evidence and will keep the advice under review.