No to Child Health U Turn
22 September 2022
We understand the Government is considering scrapping some of the measures that apply across the whole of the UK such as the sugar levy on soft drinks and the forthcoming ban on TV advertising of junk food before 9pm. There is no doubt that cutting preventable illness is crucial to reduce NHS backlogs, realise targets to halve childhood obesity by 2030 and deliver on levelling up, as poor diet is a key driver of regional health inequalities. It would be a significant step backwards to abandon these policies.
These are key policies in ensuring our children’s health. The percentage of children entering Primary 1 at risk of obesity is up by 5% points, from 10% to over 15% in the most recent statistics. We are currently heading in completely the wrong direction if we want to protect the health of our children.
There is public support for Government action on public health. The majority of adults (52%) in Scotland support a ban on all online and TV advertising for HFSS food and drinks [1].
The letter has been signed by many national organisations such as British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and Scottish organisations including Obesity Action Scotland, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow and Glasgow Food Policy Partnership. A copy of the letter is here.
Lorraine Tulloch, Programme Lead of Obesity Action Scotland said:
“If the UK Government reverse key policies that help tackle the incessant marketing of unhealthy foods, it would be a significant step backwards for the health of the nation. In the average primary 1 class in Scotland four pupils are living with obesity and a further four are living with overweight.
We have a commitment from governments across the UK to halve childhood obesity by 2030 but we are currently headed in the wrong direction, with rates increasing. Only through bold policies that improve our food environment can we truly start to improve our children’s health.”