{"id":24058,"date":"2024-04-29T15:14:14","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T14:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bant.org.uk\/?p=24058"},"modified":"2024-04-29T15:14:14","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T14:14:14","slug":"bant-2024-election-manifesto-a-call-for-change-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bant.org.uk\/bant-2024-election-manifesto-a-call-for-change-2\/","title":{"rendered":"BANT 2024 Election Manifesto \u2013 A call for change!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nTime for a prevention-led model to rebuild the nation\u2019s health<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
***Press release *** Monday 29th April 2024As UK voters prepare to go to the polls, BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) is calling on all parties to place nutrition and preventative healthcare at the heart of their pledges to the UK population.<\/p>\n

BANT CEO, Satu Jackson states \u201cThe health of the nation is dire. The statistics don\u2019t lie. We are the \u201csickest nation in Europe\u201d in the most real sense. It is time to focus on prevention and harness the existing workforce of nutrition professionals to make a real difference in the nation\u2019s health crisis\u201d.<\/p>\n

With spiralling rates of obesity and unhealthy weight, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), cancer, and mental health concerns, to name but a few, BANT has published a five-point manifesto urging decisive action to future-proof the NHS.<\/p>\n

Within the manifesto, BANT underlines the need to release NHS staff and resources currently tied to the care of chronic conditions to allow better outcomes in acute and critical care. \u201cWe need nutrition practitioners in the NHS\u201d, says Jackson, \u201csimply put, there are not enough GPs to tackle the growing burden of non-communicable diseases\u201d.<\/p>\n

GPs are facing a growing stream of chronically ill patients. The obvious solution is to bring\u00a0 Registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioners into primary care where they would ease the burden on surgeries. The main obstacle is the chronic lack of funding leading BANT to call for an increase in funding for prevention.<\/p>\n

According to BANT, the current \u2018pill for every ill\u2019 model is not effective in the face of diet-related disease and unhealthy lifestyles and serves only to divert resources. However, \u201cthere is one tried and tested way to \u2018treat\u2019 symptoms exacerbated by poor diet, and that is by improving how we eat,\u201d says Jackson.<\/p>\n

BANT also argues the case for improving current dietary guidelines and resources – given the severely outdated and under-funded Eatwell Guide, alongside taking measures to reform food labelling and restrict ultra-processed foods and drinks (UPFDs), in a collective effort to create a food environment for good health.<\/p>\n

BANT\u2019s calls for change to rebuild the nation\u2019s health are echoed by many.<\/p>\n

A general election provides parties with the unique opportunity to mark a transition in public health policy, with a focus on a prevention-led model. It is time for change!<\/p>\n

Read the full manifesto on our dedicated BANT-in-Action page<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Visit our Politics Home portal<\/a> for BANT press releases and statements direct to Parliament and policy makers.<\/p>\n

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#BANT<\/a>\u00a0#Nutrition<\/a>\u00a0#LifestyleMedicine<\/a>\u00a0#Manifesto<\/a>\u00a0#Prevention<\/a>\u00a0#Healthcare<\/a>\u00a0#Timeforchange<\/a>\u00a0#NutritioninPrimaryCare<\/a>\u00a0#NutritionistsintheNHS<\/a>\u00a0#Integrativemedicine<\/a>\u00a0#chronicdisease<\/a>\u00a0#diet<\/a>\u00a0#food<\/a>\u00a0#healthychoices<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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