OP TEEN CONCERNS ARE LOSING WEIGHT AND FITTING IN

TROUBLED TEENS REVEAL SOCIAL DIVIDE

Today’s teens are most worried about losing weight and fitting in. But more teenagers from low income families worry about bullying, drugs, and smoking compared to peers from high income families. Surveys for NHS Teen LifeCheck published today reveal social similarities and divides on some of the top teenage concerns.

Of the teenagers surveyed, almost double the number of teens from low income families worried about bullying. However, teens from higher income families are more likely to worry about peer pressure and fitting in.

The research shows:

Worry Low income families High income families Losing weight 43% 30% Bullying 41% 21% Drugs 21% 13% Smoking 19% 10% Fitting in 32% 40% Peer pressure 23% 30%

Further research also shows that almost half (48%) of teens don’t feel they can talk to their friends about their worries because they think they’ll be considered silly or different, and nearly a third (31%) feel that their friends just wouldn’t understand.

The research was undertaken for the NHS Teen LifeCheck website on behalf of the Department of Health. This online service - www.teenlifecheck.co.uk - is aimed at teens with the highest risk of future ill health caused by their lifestyle choices. The website encourages them to complete its quiz and act on the results, and signposts people to support for issues like bullying.

In just three months, www.teenlifecheck.co.uk is already having a considerable impact. More than 100,000 teenagers have completed a LifeCheck, getting advice on topics like bullying and smoking as well as drugs, alcohol, personal safety, healthy eating and exercise. Today’s survey will inform the ongoing development of the site so it is up to date and meaningful to teenagers.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron, said:

“Whether teenagers are concerned about their weight or giving up smoking, nearly three quarters of them say they like to get confidential advice. NHS Teen LifeCheck gives teenagers the support to make decisions and choices that can help them to be healthy and happy.”

www.teenlifecheck.co.uk is specifically targeted at young people (12-15) because research has shown that these are the ‘discovery years’, where young people are most likely to experiment. There is a greater opportunity for this age group to recognise and avoid risky behaviours or unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Youth worker Katharine Terrington, said:
“We tend to think that teens share all their worries with those closest to them, but this survey shows that many would find it difficult to talk about certain issues. It’s incredibly important to them to fit in with their mates and often they don’t know whether their worries are normal or not. That’s why a non-judgemental website like teenlifecheck.co.uk can be a huge help.”

The simple, interactive quiz with multiple choice answers guides young people to tailored, non-judgemental feedback, provides top tips and then points them in the direction of more information and support such as www.talktoFrank.co.uk and Childline.

www.teenlifecheck.co.uk is one of a number of initiatives being introduced by the Government to help tackle health inequalities between high and low income families.

Many teens have commented on how helpful www.teenlifecheck.co.uk has been:

• “This really helps me because I’m suffering from a little bit of depression”
• “It helped me understand about being careful about what you do”
• “The LifeCheck helped me on areas to improve in my life.”

September is the new January

English drinkers vow to cut back after holiday boozing

Drinkers in England drank an average eight alcoholic drinks every day during their summer holiday this year, a new survey from the Know Your Limits campaign revealed today.

With the typical summer break lasting ten days, that’s 80 alcoholic drinks over one holiday; 80 pints of beer is equivalent to 227 units, whilst 80 large glasses of white wine is 240 units. The NHS recommends women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day (around one large glass of wine) and men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day (two pints of beer)[1].

More than a quarter of holidaymakers (27%) admitted to the Know Your Limits campaign that they drank three times or more than usual whilst away this summer.

Though many drinkers chop and change their drinks on a night out on holiday, beer lovers consumed an average of five pints a day. Wine drinkers lapped up four standard glasses of wine each day, while spirit drinkers admitted to having five mixer drinks, such as vodka and coke, each day. Drinkers also admitted to downing four other alcoholic drinks, such as strong cocktails or shots each day.

As a result, September is looking like the new January across England, with holidaymakers vowing to cut back on their return this month:

· one in five people (19%) surveyed in the ICM poll pledged to take two days off drinking a week;

· 16% planned to stop drinking altogether between Monday and Thursday;

· one in five people (22%) are generally going out less; and

· 12% are having a completely dry month.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:

"It’s all too easy to slip into the habit of drinking too much on holiday. And it’s always hard to get back into a normal routine. But we should try to use September as the new January and make a pledge to be a little more healthy.

"Our survey showed that people across the country will be making a fresh start this September and are thinking about how they can change their drinking habits to get healthier.

"Sticking within the NHS's recommended daily limits means you reduce your risk of serious conditions such as liver disease, cancer and stroke."

Dr. Chris Steele MBE said:

“Most of us want to let our hair down on holiday and tend to drink more, as we socialise most nights without worrying about how we’ll cope with work the next morning. But, it’s worth taking a moment on your return to think about what you’ve been drinking in terms of your health. Take advantage of feeling relaxed post-holiday and commit to take care of yourself a bit more.

“Cutting back on alcohol for September is a great place to start; if you find yourself drinking all or most days of the week, start by taking at least two days off each week. It can benefit your skin and sleep, and in years to come you’ll have limited the risk of the damage you’d be doing to your internal organs each time you drank.”

The Know Your Limits campaign has created some top tips for those holidaymakers wishing to leave their holiday boozing behind and get into the habit of drinking less:

1. Have at least two alcohol-free days each week: not drinking at all on certain days is often easier than promising yourself you won’t have quite as many in the pub. Many people find Monday and Tuesday are the easiest days of the week to cut back. As time goes by and you’ve proved you’ve got the willpower, try adding Wednesdays as well.
2. Alternate with soft drinks: there’s nothing like an exotic pineapple juice or a fizzy orange drink to remind you of your holidays, so alternate your alcoholic drinks with a soft one to help you stay in control and cut back your overall intake.
3. Clock your starting time: if you regularly begin drinking early in the afternoon, it’s likely that you’re drinking too much. If you’re at home when you reach for your first drink, limit the amount of alcohol you have in the cupboards.
4. Focus on next year’s swimsuit! For those of you who came back vowing to look better on the beach next summer, cutting back on your alcohol intake is an easy way to cut out ‘empty calories’ from your diet. You’ll also be less tempted to reach for the snacks if you’re not drinking wine in front of the TV most evenings.
5. Cut down with a friend/partner: If there is one particular person you always drink with or only ever meet in the pub, suggest that you both cut down together and find alternatives to drinking for each other. Many people find this helps their own willpower and removes unnecessary temptation.

Over ten million adults in England regularly exceed the recommended daily limits, affecting their general day to day health, but also increasing their risk of serious illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, liver disease and various cancers.

Regular drinkers keen to cut back on their intake and keep an eye on their drinking after the holidays should visit www.nhs.uk/units, where an interactive units calculator can help you keep track of how much you’re really drinking.

Government launches study into Female Genital Mutilation

GPs and health professionals working in maternity, obstetrics, gynaecology, and sexual health are today being asked to take part in new study into Female Genital Mutilation in a bid to better ensure that services to protect women and girls are as effective as possible.

The study aims to increase the Government’s knowledge about women and girls affected by Female Genital Mutilation in England. It will also look at how the training needs of key health professionals could be improved and provide vital information for the development of appropriate sexual and reproductive health services. The findings will inform the forthcoming cross-government strategy on tackling Violence Against Women and Girls.

Female Genital Mutilation, also known as female genital cutting, can cause long-term mental and physical suffering, difficulty in giving birth, infertility and even death. It is illegal in the UK.

Dame Christine Beasley, England’s Chief Nursing Officer said:

“Up to 24,000 young girls in the UK are at risk of Female Genital Mutilation. We have put training in place to support frontline healthcare staff in responding where they see or hear of this practice taking place.

“By taking part in this research, Nurses will be helping to ensure that the training available to them in this difficult area is refined and improved.

“I urge all nurses to log on and take part in this important research. “

Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:

“Female Genital Mutilation is an extremely harmful practice and is illegal. It violates women’s most basic human rights. Keeping children and young people safe is a top priority for the health service and the findings of this research will be essential in ensuring that we continue to offer women the best possible protection.

“Often, women affected by Female Genital Mutilation first come into contact with the NHS through maternity, obstetrics and gynaecology and sexual health services. I am therefore asking all these health professionals to take a stand against this practice by taking part in this research.”

To take part in this study health professionals should visit http://surveys.redhouselane.com/survey.aspx?surveyid=30&uid=_ and enter password fgmsurvey

Funded by the Department of Health, the Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD), the Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are working together with King’s College London, Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery to conduct a study with health professionals on FGM. It will run throughout September.

(DH) Threat of beer bellies and man boobs scaring men into moderation

Concerns about health and looks are driving thousands to cut back on booze

Men are worried that drinking too much alcohol will give them a beer belly or man boobs according to a new survey for the Know Your Limits campaign published today.

Released during Men's Health Week, the statistics show that watching the waistline is no longer only the preserve of women, with more than one in three men (37%) claiming they would reduce their drinking to cut down on the number of calories they consume. Only money-saving (44%) is a bigger incentive.

The YouGov survey of almost 1,000 male drinkers over 18 in England revealed:

* One in six men (17%) are worried their drinking will lead to man boobs
* One in four (27%) are worried about getting a beer belly
* More than one in eight (13%) think their boozing is affecting their appearance
* Nearly one in ten (9%) worry that excessive drinking is affecting their sexual performance

The NHS recommends men do not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day - equivalent to less than two pints of normal strength beer. According to the Office of National Statistics, an estimated 6.3 million men in England regularly drink above these limits*.

The YouGov survey revealed more than one in three men (36%) are worried booze is risking their long-term health, and more than one in five (22%) already feel it is affecting their general health and wellbeing.

But awareness of the specific health risks is generally worse among men than women. While most men (73%) were aware of the increased risk of liver disease associated with drinking above the recommended limits, 83% didn't know about the link with mouth cancer, 84% were equally unaware of the risk of throat cancer, and two-thirds (66%) were blind to the increased risk of stroke.

Encouragingly, when told about these risks, more than a quarter (28%) said it made them keener to cut down.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said:

"Our survey shows that more and more men are worried about alcohol ruining their looks. It is encouraging that they are also thinking about their health. Men who drink too much are at risk of conditions such as liver disease and stroke, as well as getting out of shape.

"Unfortunately, the longer-term effect drinking too much can have on your health is harder to spot until it's too late.

"Our Know Your Limits campaign arms people with the facts about how many units are in their favourite drinks, to help them keep a check on how much they drink each day."

Dr Ian Banks, President of the Men's Health Forum, is backing the Government's Know Your Limits campaign.

He said: "It's clear men are more concerned about the impact of their drinking on their bodies than we might imagine. Many of us only begin to see the visual evidence of our drinking habits as we get older and start to carry excess baggage, but excessive drinking can also take its toll beneath the skin.

"Most of us enjoy a drink from time to time, and that's fine. But more men ought to be aware that drinking a couple of pints of beer or sharing a bottle of wine most days of the week can push them over the recommended limits, increasing their risk of liver disease, cancer, heart disease and stroke."

Chris Sorek, Chief Executive of the DrinkAware Trust said: "Men are clearly worried about how alcohol affects their looks so Men's Health Week is an ideal opportunity to get back into shape and start calculating alcohol calories on Drinkaware's website.

"Whether it's drinking with friends in the pub or relaxing at home, it's crucial men keep track of units to avoid their looks deteriorating and serious health problems including liver and heart disease, cancer, and reduced fertility. Sticking to the recommended daily unit guidelines, taking 48 hours off after a heavy session and doing regular exercise will also help men keep the beer belly - and major illnesses - at bay."

In 2007/08, there were more than 863,000 alcohol-related hospital admissions, an increase of 69% since 2002/03. Of these, 62% were for men.

Fewer than a third of men (31%) in the YouGov survey reported keeping track of their units. But a drinks calculator at http://www.nhs.uk/units does the maths for you, helping drinkers stick within their limits.