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ANA Conference 2007
23-25 May 2007 AcknowledgementsWe would like to thank all those who attended this conference for their many thoughts, ideas, and challenges. We would especially like to acknowledge our hard workers behind the scenes; Ali Copeman from akB Conference Management and the team from Novotel. We would also like to acknowledge the locals involved in the PANN network for their support, input, and manaaki. Last but not least we would like to thank our funders: the Ministry of Health, SPARC, the Health Sponsorship Council, and the NGO member organisations who make up ANA. Noho ora mai, na Conference SummaryHighlightsThe conference had many highlights. The amount of activity happening in the nutrition and physical activity sector to achieve the goals of HEHA and Mission On was celebrated. The Minister of Health, Hon Pete Hodgeson, acknowledged the sector for the work it does to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. The Feeding our Futures healthy eating campaign was launched at the conference. Feeding our Futures is a new national social marketing programme designed to help parents and caregivers ensure their children are getting a healthy diet. The first stage of the programme is a mass media campaign. Television commercials promote tips for healthy eating including eating together as a family, getting children to help with food preparation and making water or milk the first choice for children. The ANA Scientific Committee launched its third report Is consuming breakfast important for academic performance, maintaining a healthy body weight, and improving nutrient intake and lifestyle habits in children? See the Media section of this page for more details. Professor Wendy Brown from Queensland, Australia discussed findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health which already has 10 years worth of data. The study found there has been a 10 percent decrease in physical activity among its subjects between 1997-2004. Between 2000-2003, 55 percent of women studied were sufficiently active but only one third met the '30 minutes most days a week' guideline. Based on the study findings, Wendy suggested it is important to focus on the health of women in their twenties as they are prone to gain weight. Where will we be in 10 years?Ngahuru means 10. The question addressed by speakers on day one of the conference was where we will be in 10 years time with issues such as obesity and food security. Attention was drawn to demographics. In New Zealand, the population is ageing, Māori, Pacific and Asian population percentages are increasing. It is therefore important to remain focused on solutions that work for these communities. Wanting to address inequalitiesAddressing inequalities lies at the heart of many current strategies and policies: NZ Health Strategy; Healthy Eating Healthy Action, Mission On, Whakatakata Tuarua, Cancer Control Strategy, Achieving Health for All People, No Exceptions, NZ Housing Strategy. The challenge is implementation. One way is to use simple tools such as the HEAT tool, Health Lens and the Whānau Ora Health Impact Assessment tool. Getting advocacy workingAdvocacy is critical to moving the political agenda. While there has been some success – highlighted through the Health Select Committee Inquiry into Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes – we need to remain organised and consistent in preparation for the post Health Select Committee world. Advocates need to be aware of issues associated with stigma. 'Obesism' is a new form of racism. In order to achieve public support for change it is best to argue on the basis of human rights rather than use evidence the public may not relate to. Food securityFood security was highlighted as a key issue, both internationally and nationally. Dr Martin Caraher's presentation addressed global issues associated with food supply and food access. Food security will continue to challenge health professionals working in nutrition over the next 10 years. MediaReport shows eating breakfast helps children's academic performanceEating breakfast improves children's performance at school, a ground-breaking report has found. Report co-author, Robert Scragg, said 13 of 15 studies showed regular breakfast consumption was associated with improved academic performance.
Conference Programme
Invited Speakers and presentation summaries
Workshop SummariesCommunity Food Security WorkshopFood security is determined by food supply, and whether people have adequate resources and skills to acquire and use enough appropriate food for an active, healthy life. This workshop led by Dr Martin Caraher discussed community food security projects in the UK, how to evaluate them and how advocacy can improve food supply and food access. ANGELO Framework workshopThe ANGELO (Analysis Grid of Environments Linked to Obesity) framework is a planning tool to identify environmental interventions for obesity. The Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) study, has used the ANGELO framework to identify key priorities for action with schools, and churches in the South Auckland area. Researchers from the School of Population Health, University of Auckland involved in the OPIC study, shared how to use the ANGELO framework in working with communities. Active Communities Workshop – Promoting Community Health through RecreationRecreation is about providing a range of experiences and opportunities that people do for fun. Recreation can be therapeutic – restoring physical and mental wellbeing and connecting people with their communities. This workshop, led by Robyn Cockburn, profiled community recreation, who makes it happen and what the community recreation sector can offer. Pasifika Models for Research and HealthProfessor Sitaleki Finau and Sione Tuitahi (Massey University) hosted this workshop discussing Pasifika models for research and health. It was followed by a presentation from PIFNAG (Pacific Islands Food and Nutrition Action Group) about the development of the Pacific Advocacy plan for the Obesity Action Coalition and about social marketing from a Pacific perspective. Come to the PARTIThis Train the Trainer session was presented by, Penny Olsen, Project Co-ordinator, Action for Healthy Children, Nelson Public Health Service. PARTI is short for: Present – Activate – Reflect – Trigger – Initiate The session illustrated innovative ways of engaging and motivating others beyond the health sector into taking action on the issue of obesity. Ethics of Association with Industry workshopIn an ideal world charitable organisations, sports trusts, schools and health groups would have enough money to carry out their core business without funding from outside sources. The reality is that many events and programmes rely on funding from businesses whose profit comes from selling products that are not aligned to good health. Conference SecretariatakB Conference ManagementContact: SponsorsANA would like to acknowledge the sponsors of this conference. Kia ora!
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