A raft of measures have been revealed as part of the Government’s new Obesity Strategy to get the nation fit and healthy, protect themselves against COVID-19 and protect the NHS.

There will be a ban on TV and online adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm

An end to deals like ‘buy one get one free’ on unhealthy food high in salt, sugar and fat and Calories to be displayed on menus to help people make healthier choices when eating out – while alcoholic drinks could soon have to list hidden ‘liquid calories’

Obesity is one of the biggest health crises the country faces says the Government.

Almost two thirds of adults in England are overweight or living with obesity – and 1 in 3 children leave primary school overweight or obese, with obesity-related illnesses costing the NHS £6 billion a year.

The urgency of tackling the obesity time bomb has been brought to the fore by evidence of the link to an increased risk from COVID-19.

Living with excess weight puts people at greater risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, with risk growing substantially as BMI increases. Nearly 8% of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units have been morbidly obese, compared with 2.9% of the general population.

This plan is being launched alongside an exciting new “Better Health” campaign, led by Public Health England, which will call on people to embrace a healthier lifestyle and to lose weight if they need to, supported by a range of evidence-based tools and apps providing advice on how to reduce the waistline.

Overconsumption of calories is one of the most significant contributing factors in becoming overweight. Figures show many adults are consuming 200-300 extra calories a day above recommended daily guidelines with children who are already overweight are consuming up to 500 calories more than they need every day.

Commenting on details of the government’s obesity strategy, Adam Briggs, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation, said:

‘Today’s announcement includes some positive steps to tackle obesity in the UK, but the government’s strategy is likely to be a missed opportunity to provide everyone with an equal chance of living a healthy life. A commitment to restrict price promotions and advertising of unhealthy food is welcome, but there is little sign of policies that will address the root causes of obesity.

‘A credible strategy would go further to modify the environment and the circumstances in which we live – the multiple factors that shape whether we can be active or eat healthily. It would acknowledge the role of economic and social factors like poverty and unemployment that drive poor health and inequalities, and the impact of year-on-year cuts to local authority budgets. It would use the range of powerful levers that the government has at its disposal to implement evidence-based practical solutions – from more space for cycling and walking to restricting fast food outlets near schools – which have broad public support.

‘Many of today’s announcements are not new ideas – they have been included in previous childhood obesity plans but never implemented. Too much time has already been lost, we must now see decisive action.’

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