The campaign was officially launched on 10 May 2011 at the Royal College of Physicians by Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for primary care, Róisín Shortall T.D.
[4] A key message of the campaign was communicating new information to the public on waist sizes for men and women, and how to measure these correctly.
[5] The campaign used both online and offline media including, TV and radio and outdoor advertising and public relations encouraging members of the public to pick up a free measuring tape from participating pharmacies and check their waist measurements.
Stop the Spread represented the first integrated use of social and digital media by Safefood in a public health awareness campaign.
To raise further awareness of the campaign with the public, an 8-week weight management programme with MLA's in the Northern Ireland Assembly was carried out.