The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Public find taste for healthy eating

17/02/2003

The Executive's new Healthy Eating telephone advice service has received more than 12,000 calls during its first month in operation.

Between the launch on January 7 and February 7, there were also 17,045 requests for healthyliving packs, almost evenly split by those requesting them over the hotline and via the website.

In total the website was visited 43,214 times, giving an average of around 1,400 visits a day, with each user spending on average 10 minutes 12 seconds on the site.

Food and Health Co-ordinator Gillian Kynoch said:

"I am delighted to see that the public are taking up this new and unique opportunity to obtain individual support and advice on changing their diets for the better. I am equally pleased to see that so many people have requested information packs and downloaded recipes and other information from the website.

"During the next few months, we will continue to monitor and evaluate the service very closely to ensure it continues to meet the public's needs and, if necessary, will adapt the support provided as and when required.

"As we have made clear from the start, we don't expect any quick wins here. Changing Scotland's long-standing cultural love of high fat, high sugar and high salt foods will be a long, hard battle.

"However, it is one which we must win if we are to create a fitter, healthier Scotland and reduce the burden of diseases such as heart disease, cancer, obesity and type 2 diabetes on individuals as well as society."

Cathy Higginson of the Health Education Board for Scotland, project manager for the healthyliving service, said the requests for advice had been wide ranging.

"Callers to the advice line and people accessing the website are seeking advice and information on a whole variety of food and diet-related subjects. For example - the best type of spread to use, suitable weaning foods, information about safe and sustainable weight loss and general healthy eating advice for type 2 diabetes.

"Other queries have included how to ensure adequate calcium intake in a vegetarian diet, advice on cooking for one, appropriate food and fat choices to help lower cholesterol level, advice on food allergies and how to create healthier meals for a family on a low income.

"Overall, what is really different about this service for the public is that the advice is highly accessible - available from the comfort of the caller's own home - and is tailored to people's individual circumstances.

This helps get away from the idea that 'one diet fits all' and emphasises the point that eating healthily is much easier than most people think."

The actual figure for calls in the first month was 12,045 against a target of 10,500. There were 8,866 requests for healthyliving packs via the hotline and 8,359 requests via the website. The target figure was 8,400.