Food for Thought

Windsor Women’s Centres’ Food for Thought project provides a multi-functional inner-city green space, which facilitates activities for participants that empowers them to recognise healthy lifestyle choices. This space provides the means through which women and their families in the community can improve their environment, health and wellbeing. They also encompass a range of activities which improve the nutrition of service users from children to the elderly and will improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of their community.

Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in Ireland. Mental Health and Social Well-being Report

SĹN 2007: Older People, Loneliness and Social Support to Mental HealthSĹN, the national Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition, shows that most Irish adults have a reasonably high level of positive mental health. It is the largest national survey on positive and negative mental health and social well-being in the Irish adult population.��One finding highlights the significance of loneliness and social support to mental health. Finding reveal that 14% of respondents reported being often lonely in the last four weeks, with women, older people and respondents in lower social class groups reporting high levels of loneliness. The SĹN report indicates that being widowed and not being in paid employment are the strongest overall predictors of loneliness. Respondents who are widowed are about five times more likely to feel lonely than those who are married or cohabiting, while 17% of respondents aged 65 and over report being often lonely.��SLAN 2007 highlights the significance of loneliness and social support to mental health. It proposes community-based interventions, including community development approaches and strategies to promote community involvement as a way to tackle such social and health inequities at local level. The report also highlights the importance of implementing the recommendations of the policy document A Vision for Change. It says that protection and promotion of the future health and well-being of the Irish population requires the implementation of effective cross-sectoral policies that will help create and maintain a mentally healthy society, with consequent health, economic and social benefits for all.����SLAN is commissioned by the Department of Health and Children and involved face-to-face interviews with 10,364 respondents aged 18 years and over.��

Building Evidence for Dementia Prevention

As was the case in 2010 when the National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement on the prevention of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, there remains a lack of firm evidence for dementia prevention. Because of the difficulties in studying this phenomenon, no modifiable risk factors for dementia have been definitively established, and no pharmaceutical or nutritional supplements been proven to prevent Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive decline. However, longitudinal observational studies have identified several factors associated with dementia. A recent review article summarizes the current epidemiological evidence about Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and presents three ongoing large scale randomized control trials (RCTs) that focus on preventing dementia. The review argues that there is substantial evidence for many factors that, in combination, might reduce the risk of, or delay the onset of, dementia. Although no specific cure for dementia exists, and no specific pathway between risk factor and disease onset has been identified, several cardiovascular, stress, toxicity, and psychosocial variables have been repeatedly associated with dementia. Protective factors, such as high education, physical exercise, and not smoking cigarettes, have been identified as well. Intervention studies that account for these multiple factors may well identify strategies for preventing or delaying dementia. However, the protective effects and risk factors suggested by observational data have yet to be assessed in RCT research. The role of such factors in reducing or increasing the risk for dementia needs to be more specifically defined. Three ongoing RCT studies in Europe show promise in this area, as they target multiple risk and protective factors by promoting healthy lifestyle changes and medical treatment of vascular diseases. These are: FINGER, a Finnish trial involving 1,200 older adults at risk for dementia. This intervention features nutritional guidance, physical activity, cognitive and social engagement, and medical management of risk factors. Participants were involved in previous, intensive observational studies of vascular health and health behavior, so FINGER will provide a level of relevant information about its research subjects that is normally impossible for clinical RCTs to attain;MAPT, a multicenter study of 1,680 frail older adults in France. This study will compare the efficacy of omega-3 dietary supplementation with a multidomain training intervention that involves physical and cognitive training. The study will include follow-up assessments after five years;PreDIVA, a Dutch study of 3,534 community dwelling participants between 70 and 78 years old, recruited from primary care clinics. This study will compare standard medical care with a multicomponent vascular health intervention. The study will last for six years and measure both dementia and disability outcomes. These studies are an important step in dementia research, using earlier observational studies as the basis for rigorously assessed interventions. Although a cure for dementia has not been identified, this new research may identify preventive strategies against dementia. �� Source: Mangialasche F, Kivipelto M, et al. (2012). Dementia prevention: current epidemiological evidence and future perspective. Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy 4:6.

ENGAGED: evidence for active and healthy ageing

To scale up independent living solutions we need to collect and share more evidence on their impact across Europe. However, a joint European framework of methodologies is missing in that area. For that reason ENGAGED organised a set of workshops gathering experts and stakeholders from all over Europe.Read more about our activities and the ENGAGED upcoming events in the project’s third newsletter:��ENGAGED third newsletter

A Picture of Ageing Research in Ireland, North and South

This publication provides a snapshot of the ageing research landscape across the island of Ireland.�� By 2030 one in five people on the island of Ireland will be 65 years or older. As the population ages research into ageing and older people is vital to help plan for healthier and more active later lives for everyone. Academic institutions across the island are engaged in a wide range of research programmes and projects relating to ageing. ��Ageing is increasingly viewed as a research priority for these institutions and the island of Ireland is gaining recognition as a place of excellence for ageing research. This publication provides an overview of research relating to ageing being carried out in their various third level institutions in Ireland, North and South. ��It combined these profiles with information about a selection of major collaborative research projects and CARDI’s research funding activities to produce an update of a previous directory published in 2010. A Picture of Ageing Research 2014 illustrates the continued growth and quality of research being carried out in a wide range of disciplines by a growing community of researcher in Ireland, North and South. CARDI Director Dr Roger O’Sullivan says, “We are delighted to present this publication which captures the innovative and high quality nature of ageing research being carried out by researchers in Ireland, North and South. ��Ageing research is vital to providing a valuable evidence base for building a better future for our ageing populations”.

Making the Link Between Obesity and wellbeing

Making the links between Obesity & Well-being. A briefing paper developed for Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) North West. The paper covers the epidemiology and evidence of links between health and obesity. Mental well-being is a key factor of obesity and weight management. Good mental health is a protective factor for good physical health and against physical illness and is essential for making healthy lifestyle choices and behaviour changes. Poor mental health can lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices and unhealthy weight management. Obesity and physical illness can also lead to poor mental health. People with mental health problems, especially severe, are also at increased risk of obesity and related poor health. In order to ensure that strategies and programmes effectively address the relevant mental well-being factors, a mental well-being impact assessment (MWIA) could be undertaken. This process is based on health impact assessment methodology and a set of evidence based mental well-being determinants and factors, grouped under the four themes of enhancing control, increasing resilience and community assets, facilitating participation and promoting inclusion. The process also involves identifying indicators to measure progress. Evaluation shows it is effective in engaging stakeholders in service development and evaluation and it increases understanding of mental well-being and its determinants.

The London Health Inequalities Strategy - Draft for public consultation

This is the very first Health Inequality Strategy to be published for public consultation by the London Mayor. As such it represents a momentous step forward in galvanising action across London to address the health inequalities which prevent many Londoners from enjoying their life to the full and making the most of what London has to offer. The Greater London Authority Act 2007 requires that the strategy identifies the health inequalities, the priorities for reducing them and the role to be played by a defined list of key partners in order to implement the strategy. It defines health inequalities as inequalities in respect of life expectancy or general state of health which are wholly or partly a result of differences in respect of general health determinants۪, which it describes as: (a) standards of housing, transport services or public safety; (b) employment prospects, earning capacity and any other matters that affect levels of prosperity; (c) the degree of ease or difficulty with which persons have access to public services; (d) the use, or level of use, of tobacco, alcohol or other substances, and any other matters of personal behaviour or lifestyle, that are or may be harmful to health, and any other matters that are determinants of life expectancy or the state of health of persons generally, other than genetic or biological factors.

Synthetic Estimates of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours

These synthetic estimates were produced as part of a research project to test and produce area-level estimates of healthy lifestyle behaviours, which was carried out at the National Centre for Social Research. The estimates were produced in response to the twin requirements to develop small area estimates for Neighbourhood Statistics and to meet local public health information needs. Synthetic estimates with 95% Confidence Intervals (1) have been prepared using 2000-2002 data from the Health Survey for England, the 2001 Census and other information, at the 2003 Census Area Statistics (CAS) ward and Primary Care Organisation (PCO)(2) geographic level for the following variables: Prevalence of current smoking (at the time the data was collected); Obesity of adults; Binge drinking for adults; Consumption of 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day (adults); Consumption of 3 or more portions of fruit and vegetables day (children).

South Central Strategic Health Authority: Cancer inequalities

This fact sheet focuses on the relationship between inequalities in cancer incidence, mortality and survival for the four most common cancers (lung, colorectal, breast and prostate) and levels of deprivation and certain lifestyle factors in local communities in the South Central SHA. The report is intended to inform the debate about priorities for reducing inequalities in the cancer burden and in outcomes for cancer patients in local communities.

Activ8: A children and obesity project

This project is a 6 x weekly food and activity programme using the local sports centre as a venue. Overweight/obese children, together with a parent / carer and sibling were recruited. A lifestyle pre-course assessment was made with each child, resulting in 5 individual goals. Evaluation was based on attendance; individual goals; post course questionnaire; anthropometric measurements and a food diary. Follow up at 4/52,3/12 and 6/12.

Obesity: Guidance on the prevention of overweight and obesity in adults and children [CG43]

This guidance has been partially updated byCG189 Obesity (update), PH53 Managing overweight and obesity in adults – lifestyle weight management services and NG7 Maintaining a healthy weight and preventing excess weight gain among adults and children. Go straight to the recommendations Evidence used to create this guideline (full guideline) Section 1.1.1 of this guideline has been replaced by Maintaining a healthy weight and preventing excess weight gain among adults and children(2015) NICE guideline NG7. Section 1.2 of this guideline has been replaced by Obesity: identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in children, young people and adults NICE guideline CG189. Section 1.1.7 of this guideline has been replaced by Managing overweight and obesity in adults – lifestyle weight management services (2014) NICE guideline PH53.

Your result shows a small abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

This leaflet is given to all men who have attended screening through the Northern Ireland Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme and been diagnosed with a small AAA.The leaflet provides: �background information on the AAA screening programme; details on what a small AAA is; information on the monitoring process to regularly check the size of the AAA;lifestyle advice that may help those men diagnosed with an AAA. �Men who have been diagnosed with a small AAA will be invited to a monitoring scan once a year, unless their AAA increases in size to a medium AAA, at which point they will be invited to a monitoring scan once every three months.

Your result shows a medium abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

This leaflet is given to all men who have attended screening through the Northern Ireland Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme and been diagnosed with a medium AAA.The leaflet provides: background information on the AAA screening programme; details on what a medium AAA is; information on the monitoring process to regularly check the size of the AAA;lifestyle advice that may help those men diagnosed with an AAA. Men who have been diagnosed with a medium AAA will be invited to a monitoring scan once every three months, unless their AAA increases in size to a large AAA, at which point they will be referred to a team of vascular specialists for further assessment and the possible offer of surgery.

Your result shows a large abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) that may need surgery

This leaflet is given to all men who have attended screening through the Northern Ireland Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme and been diagnosed with a large AAA.The leaflet provides: background information on the AAA screening programme; details on what a large AAA is; information on the process of referral to a team of vascular specialists;details on the operation to treat a large AAA;important information on the symptoms of a ruptured AAA;lifestyle advice that may help those men diagnosed with an AAA. Men who have been diagnosed with a large AAA will be invited to meet a team of vascular specialists for further assessment within two or three weeks of their scan. Following additional medical tests, the patient may be offered surgery to treat the large AAA. Those men assessed as unsuitable for an operation will continue to be monitored within the vascular service.

Director of Public Health annual report 2012 and core tables 2011

Improving the health and wellbeing of the elderly is the theme of the fourth Director of Public Health annual report, launched on 12 June 2013. Northern Ireland's elderly population is growing and older people are living longer than ever before, which emphasises the importance of providing health and social care that allows them to live a productive life.This report highlights the many areas of public health work aimed at giving elderly people in Northern Ireland the best opportunity to live active and healthy lives in a safe and secure environment. An in-depth overview also provides statistics on many aspects of life as an elderly person here - life expectancy, mortality, mental wellbeing, lifestyle, social determinants of health etc. Further, more detailed, data is included in an accompanying report available�as a separate document.��The core tables for 2011, also available to download below, include information such as estimated home population figures and projections, birth rates, fertility rates, death rates, information on mortality, life expectancy, immunisation rates and screening uptake rates.The presentation slides from key speakers from the launch event on 12 June 2013 and all parallel sessions are also appended below.�Please note:�The PHA cannot be held responsible for any breach of copyright that may exist within individual presentations.Anyone wishing to get a copy of the presentation by Ron McDowell�in the 'Identifying those at risk' category should contact him directly at mcdowell-R3@email.ulster.ac.uk