Nutrition & Health Foundation

Dr Louise Sullivan19th November 2007

Irish Nutrition & Health Foundation (NHF)

The NHF was established in Dublin, Ireland, in January 2005

Why? Positive action to improve the health of Irish consumers was

needed Changing consumer behaviour requires input from ALL

relevant stakeholders – including Government, Industry, Scientists, Health Professionals and others

This unified approach can only be achieved by bringing all relevant stakeholders to the table to work together in a single ‘multi-stakeholder platform’

NHF Mission

To be a key driver in promoting consumer behavioural change by providing them with evidence-based information on both nutrition & physical activity

To be proactive and to be part of the solution to Ireland’s obesity and other health problems

To bring together government, scientists, health professionals and industry to tackle Ireland’s health issues in a unified manner

To put the consumer at the heart of our mission

Our Supporters

Government (State Agencies)

Internationally recognised Scientists & Health Professionals

Industry - 25 of the leading Irish food & drink companies

Key NHF Projects Research

Consumer Research (2005, 2007) Scientific Research (IUNA Food Consumption Survey in

Teenagers)

Lifestyle Behaviour Change in General Practice Joint project with Irish College of General Practitioners to educate

GPs/Practice Nurses about how to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours through the General Practice

Workplace Wellbeing 1st Workplace Wellbeing Programme launched Sept ‘05 Follow-up Workplace Wellbeing Campaign launched May

‘07

Rationale for Health Promotion in the Workplace

Busy working lifestyles leave less and less time for people to focus on their health

NHF Research has shown that people feel unsupported by their workplace when it comes to engaging in physical activity

Irish workers need a solution that motivates them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and shows them how to fit physical activity into their working day

Workplace Wellbeing Campaign

Launched in May 2007 to promote Health & Wellbeing in workplaces throughout Ireland Simple Approach

Information booklet/Planner for each staff member Notepad for each staff member (with healthy lifestyle

branding) Posters/signage for communal areas Toolkit for management Access to ‘wellbeing network’ for management

No training required No costly equipment included Campaign Packs made Free to participating

companies/organisations

Messaging

Nutrition;

5 Steps to healthier eating

What we get wrong Portion Size Advice Swap & Save at Work Healthy Packed Lunches Tips for shift workers Healthy Daily Menus Food Pyramid Guide

Physical Activity

Why Exercise is so Important Targets & What to Expect How to Make Time in your

Day Range of ‘Everyday

Exercises’ How to go for Fitness Social Aspects of Exercise

Developed by NHF Scientific Committee

Equal emphasis given to the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity

Campaign MaterialsInformation Booklet

Notepad

Toolkit Guide

Campaign Posters

Campaign Posters

Campaign Success

Campaign was marketed through business newsletters and national/local press (non-advertised)

Response from companies/organisations has been enormous

Now on our 3rd print run of Free Campaign Packs Expect to reach 62,500 employees by January 2008

Demand for packs has continually outstripped supply

Clear evidence that companies need these types of resources!

Some of the Participating Companies/Organisations

Aer Lingus Allianz Bank of Ireland BD Medical BDO Simpson Xavier Canada Life Coca Cola Danone Department of Defense Department of Social & Family Affairs DHL Diageo Electricity Supply Board GlaxoSmithKline HSBC Irish Business & Employers

Confederation Irish Rugby Football Union Irish Times Ltd

Kellogg’s KPMG Leo Pharmaceutical Mars Foods McDonald’s Microsoft Nestle Ireland Price Waterhouse Coopers Rabobank Revenue Commissioners Sherring Plough Stenaline Ferries Trinity College Dublin Unilever University College Dublin (National

Nutrition Surveillance Centre) Wellman International

Future for Campaign

500 new packs to be distributed to new participating organisations over the coming weeks

4 new ‘refresher’ campaign posters currently being developed for December/January distribution to existing participating organisations

NHF to embark on talks with key stakeholder groups to broaden the scope of this proven model to reach more employees throughout Ireland

Key Learnings

Keep it Simple If it sounds complicated, HR will be put off

Don’t be too ambitious at first Better start with a very simple programme and build

upon it later, if necessary

Cost is a barrier Much easier to take on a programme that is free

HR Departments are interested in Wellbeing Initiatives Make it as easy as possible for them to participate!

Thank You!