Ministry of Health emphasises the importance of a healthy life during pregnancy and the first two years of the child

Aecosan Campaign: “Thank you for those first 1.000 days”.

• At this stage of the “first 1000 days of life” it is essential to maintain a suitable diet and the regular practice of physical activity, to prevent obesity and other non-communicable diseases. This contributes to the weight control of both the mother and the baby, reducing the risk of obesity and overweight in the future.
• According to the latest ALADINO Study 2015 conducted by the AECOSAN, 41.3 percent of the infant population carry excess weight (overweight or obesity).
• With this campaign, AECOSAN, in line with the World Health Organisation, aims to emphasise the importance of the family, working and social environment for promoting healthy habits.

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality, through the AECOSAN, has launched today a campaign aimed at transmitting information and recommendations for pregnant women, mothers, fathers, the family and social environment and health professionals, in order to make people aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy and the first two years of the baby's life. What occurs in the first 1000 days of the baby's life will be of great importance for his or her health. The campaign slogan is “Thank you for those first 1000 days”.

The first 1000 days include the pregnancy and the first 2 years of the baby's life (including while nursing). It is a key period in which there is a huge opportunity for preventing obesity and a number of other diseases from the start of life because there is a likelihood of obtaining positive effects for health which will last throughout adult life.

According to the latest ALADINO Study, 41.3 percent of the infant population carry excess weight (23.2% prevalence of overweight and 18.1% of obesity). Although these figures continue to be high, the percentage of overweight children has decreased significantly (falling by 3 points from 2011 to 2015) and the prevalence of obesity has stabilised.

IMPORTANCE OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT IN THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH

This is the reason that one of the strategic lines of the Ministry of Health, through the Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition (AECOSAN), is the promotion of healthy habits, in particular a healthy diet, and the promotion of physical activity.

In this respect, AECOSAN, in line with the World Health Organisation, aims to emphasise the importance of the family, working and social environment for promoting the healthy habits of parents. It also highlights the support of health professionals working with pregnant women and babies in the promotion of healthy habits, as this is a major reference point throughout life and in particular for infants and young people.

From the NAOS Strategy, work is carried out in line with the recommendations of the WHO and the EU, and activities are encouraged in different areas (school, family, community, business, work, health) and at the same time with the different public and private sectors, giving priority to infants, adolescents, pregnant and nursing mothers and the more vulnerable population groups. Therefore, to develop this initiative, the integration of the different environments and settings is considered.

THREE STAGES: PREGNANCY, FIRST YEAR AND SECOND YEAR

The campaign divides these first 1000 days into three stages:

• “270 days: Pregnancy.
  • Following a healthy diet during pregnancy contributes to the control of your weight and that of your baby.
  • Eat thinking about two, but not for two!
  • Make sure you follow a safe diet during your pregnancy.
  • Take moderate physical activity. Important! Do not overtire yourself. You should be able to hold a conversation while you are exercising.
  • Say goodbye to harmful habits.
• 365 days: First year of life.
  • Maternal breastfeeding exclusively during the first 6 months of your baby's life. This is the best means of prevention. It provides the baby with the first defences against infectious disease, reducing the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases in the future. It is of benefit to both mother and child, favouring the health of the baby, creating a bond and reducing the risk of diabetes type 2, ovarian and breast cancer in the mother. Carrying on breastfeeding is everyone's work: family, friends and the working environment.
  • If other food for infants and young children is used (always at the recommendation of health professionals), read the nutritional label for details of the sugar, salt and fat content.
  • The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other national and international bodies recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed during the first six months and in combination with other supplementary food until they are two years old or more.
  • After the age of 6 months, the baby's nutritional requirements increase to enable his or her rapid growth and development.
  • Babies should experiment with a wide range of flavours and healthy and nutritionally suitable foods: follow the advice of your paediatrician for the introduction of different food types at this stage.
• 365 days: Second year of life.
  • It is important for the infant to join in at the family table and active leisure activities.
  • Because he or she will learn and adopt healthy habits while having fun.
  • Do not forget that what he or she learns today will be of benefit tomorrow and will last throughout his or her life”.

During these 1000 days, the diet of the mother and the baby (after the first 6 months) should always be varied, balanced and in suitable quantities. Eating fresh products which is in season, with low levels of salt, sugar and fats. Not forgetting to take physical activity at each stage.

The campaign includes a publicity spot, computer graphics, a radio slot and posters. It will be released online from 16 October until 30 October.

All material can be downloaded from this link: http://www.aecosan.msssi.gob.es/en/AECOSAN/web/nutricion/campanyas/aecosan_campanya_12.htm

See all news