The government wants manufacturers to cut the amount of sugar in cereals, yoghurts, candy, breads and desserts by 20 percent by 2020.
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But there is no attempt to rein back advertising aimed at kids and many of its ideas, such as a scheme for the food industry to reduce sugar in children’s foods, are voluntary.
The soft drinks industry remains unhappy with the sugar tax on their products, as unveiled by former chancellor George Osborne in his last budget in March. “At least 30 minutes should be delivered in school every day through active break times, PE, extra-curricular clubs, active lessons, or other sport and physical activity events, with the remaining 30 minutes supported by parents and carers outside of school time” and gives Ofsted the responsibility for making sure primary schools comply.
Professor NeenaModi president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is just one of the many experts who has slammed government action on reducing childhood obesity.
Parveen Kumar, chairwoman of the British Medical Association board of science, said Thursday that it was “incredibly disappointing” that the plan didn’t include restrictions on marketing of unhealthy food and drinks.
The UK Government is to publish its long-awaited childhood obesity strategy today amid claims it is an “unforgiveable missed opportunity” by health campaigners.
Children aged 5 and from the poorest income groups are twice as likely to be obese compared to their most well off counterparts and by age 11 they are three times as likely.
In a statement announcing details of the strategy, which has been in the works for several years, junior finance minister Jane Ellison said obesity was costing Britain’s National Health Service billions of pounds every year.
It says the ultimate target is a 20% sugar cut, with Public Health England monitoring voluntary progress over the next four years. The aim is to get school children to take part in 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
The strategy, which was delayed several months partly due to government preparations for the EU Referendum, was published today by the Department of Health and branded “the start of a conversation, rather than the final word” – despite ministers arguing they are “clear in our goals and firm in the action we will take”.
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, said: “This plan is the first step on the long road to tackling childhood obesity – one of the most important issues for the future of our children. We need to face facts: this problem won’t go away unless we face it head on”.
Fiona Smith, Professional Lead for Children and Young People’s Nursing for the RCN, said: “Whilst its right that the Government is focussing on the nation’s health and the effect that habits formed in childhood can have, this plan is more notable for what it does not contain than for what it does”.
Britain’s plans will see a levy applied to drinks with a total sugar content above five grams per 100ml, with a higher band for even more sugary drinks.
“This is why we need strong and bold Government action to make it as easy as possible for children and their families to make healthier choices and lead healthier lives”.
Following this move, the Government will begin to crackdown on “covering the remaining relevant foods and drinks, including any products that may be out of scope of the soft drinks industry levy, for example, milk-based drinks”.
The British Soft Drink Association (BDSA) also responded to the report stating their disappointment that the Government proceeded with a measure which may cause thousands of job losses and have a meaningless impact on obesity levels.
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“Obesity kills as surely as smoking; Government took on the tobacco industry effectively, although it was a tough challenge, and can do it again now”.
