The UK’s outgoing chief medical officer has attracted fierce criticism over her recommendations for how the country can meet its target on child obesity – but more action from government and industry is necessary, says GlobalData.
Childhood obesity in the UK has reached an all time high
No eating on the tube
Dean Best, Food editor at GlobalData, comments: ‘Professor Dame Sally Davies has issued 48 recommendations for the UK Government to follow as it works towards its target of halving child obesity by 2030. Too much attention has been given to one of those recommendations – a ban on eating and drinking on public transport, which has been roundly criticised.
‘That proposal is very unlikely to see the light of day – how would it be enforced? – but Dame Sally’s recommendations do carry some cogent ideas the UK Government should seriously consider, including overhauling the VAT system and taxing less healthy fare more consistently.’
Obesity at an all time high
Best continues: ‘Dame Sally’s report was commissioned by the UK Government, which had been showing signs of being serious about tackling the issue of child obesity. The Government set out a series of proposals, including banning the sale of sweets and snacks at checkouts, fresh restrictions on advertising unhealthy food to children on TV and online, and clear calorie labelling in foodservice outlets.
‘These proposals were sent out for consultation in March but are in limbo as government bandwidth is taken up by Brexit. However, according to official figures issued this week, levels of severe obesity among children in the last year of primary school have hit an all-time high.
‘Meanwhile, manufacturers are making some progress in lowering the levels of sugar in some foods, but not enough headway has been made in other areas.
‘It is understandable that the government’s attention is on Brexit, but once the issue is resolved, action needs to be made on trying to achieve a child obesity target that may not now be met. The industry also needs to work harder and faster.’
