OAS response to Scottish Government Ministerial Statement on Diet and Healthy Weight consultations

Lorraine Tulloch, Programme Lead, Obesity Action Scotland said:

“Everyday in Scotland, junk food continues to be put centre-stage in retail environments. As a consequence children’s health is impacted by rising rates of childhood obesity. Today the Scottish Government committed to yet another consultation. This consultation will be the fourth consultation on the issue of restricting promotions of junk food.

We support them to take this action forward but we urge them to take it boldly and urgently. The Scottish Government first committed to action on this issue in 2018 and now in 2023 we are still awaiting the necessary legislative steps. All the time the likelihood of Scotland meeting its target of halving childhood obesity by 2030 is reduced.  We have learnt from COVID-19 and pressures on the NHS that measures to tackle obesity are problems for today and not some time in the future.

Children deserve to live a life protected from the actions of a food industry that continues to put junk food in the spotlight.”