This preliminary survey suggests that a significant number of primary school children may be using tanning devices either in the home or on commercial premises. More rigorous research is urgently required to test these findings. The precautionary principle suggests that public action is justified on present evidence.

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In 2055, everybody knew that obesity was a problem, but what did they do about it?The year is 2055. Socrates is discussing the history of the western obesity epidemic with Panacea, the goddess of healing.Socrates: Do you recall the days when people were still allowed to smoke? Panacea: Indeed, Socrates. It seems unthinkable now. Of course in those days smoking was the leading preventable cause of chronic disease. It is remarkable how times have changed.Socrates: In the past 50 years, obesity has come to account for more health problems than any other single factor. I can't help thinking, Panacea, that something could have been done to prevent this. What on earth was going on at the beginning of the 21st century?Panacea: Well, it was common knowledge that more and more people were becoming overweight. Obesity was well established as a risk factor for all kinds of diseases. There was even talk of epidemics and time bombs. Socrates: So why were people becoming obese? The rational prescriptionPanacea: Surely that's obvious. They were consuming more energy than they were expending.Socrates: It was that simple? Panacea: Absolutely. Socrates: I suppose this was a recent scientific discovery?Panacea: Oh no, Socrates. Even in the 20th century, the concept was well understood. Socrates: Is the human body not designed to regulate itself?Panacea: Indeed. It has sophisticated mechanisms for controlling hunger and appetite.Socrates: So why did some people not achieve a balance between their energy inputs and energy outputs?Panacea: Well, Socrates, it was all to do with their lifestyle choices. Socrates: Some followed a lifestyle of gluttony? Panacea: Or a lifestyle of sloth. Or both. Socrates: Your explanation implies a very neat, rational prescription, Panacea. If people consume more energy than they expend, they will gain weight, and if they are told to adjust their intake to suit their needs, they won't gain weight.Panacea: Indeed, Socrates.Socrates: Didn't your disciples take this message to the people? Panacea: Oh yes! They offered all manner of diets, drugs, operations, healthy living campaigns . . . One could hardly avoid being exposed to the information.Socrates: These measures helped people to lose weight?Panacea: Sort of. Well, some of them, anyway. Socrates: I see. So much for controlling energy intake. Can we also assume that people were expending too little energy? Panacea: Conceivably, Socrates. The television demanded many hours of attention each day. The more advanced citizens even managed to watch TV while simultaneously eating high energy snacks to support their cerebral activity. 6The rational prescription

BackgroundPrevious research has shown diagnosis or screening for cancer may be a ‘teachable moment’ for prevention through lifestyle change. Previous trials have been successful but have been delivered via national programmes targeting patients being screened for colorectal cancer. This manuscript reports the protocol for a proof-of-concept study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a lifestyle change service targeting men suspected or diagnosed with cancer of the prostate in a secondary care cancer service within the UK.MethodsLifestyle change will be promoted through integration of a lifestyle change service in a urology department in one NHS Board. The service is delivered by a Health Psychologist and uses motivational interviewing and behavioural change techniques to motivate and support patients to consider and address topics such as increasing physical activity and a healthy diet, smoking cessation, alcohol reduction and weight loss. A service evaluation will assess feasibility and acceptability via a patient experience survey, a survey exploring staff knowledge, attitudes and practice, pre- and post-intervention lifestyle behaviour survey and an audit of routine patient database.DiscussionThis pilot will assess the viability of using cancer testing and diagnosis as a teachable moment for lifestyle change in a unique population (i.e. men with suspected cancer of the prostate). If successful, this approach offers potential for preventative services to enhance routine and person-centred clinical cancer care provided within secondary care settings.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40814-016-0102-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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