New reforms have been proposed by the Health and Social Care Committee, chaired by Dr Sarah Wollaston.
The Health and Social Care Committee has published its latest report on childhood obesity, entitled Childhood obesity: Time for action, and are awaiting the government’s response. MP’s are calling for a range of measures to prevent levels of childhood obesity escalating in the UK. These measures include restrictions on marketing and advertising of foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) to children.
In response to the Health and Social Care Select Committee report ‘Childhood obesity: Time for action’ published on Wednesday 30 May:
Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes and Chair of the committee said “Today’s report calls on government to take effective action to narrow the ever widening gap in childhood obesity between the richest & poorest communities. We know what works & can no longer ignore the lifetime personal costs for these children”.
Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London and Chairman of Action on Sugar, says "We agree with the recommended measures put forward by the committee but we believe the government can do more. Theresa May launched her Prime Minister campaign in 2016 by saying that she wanted to tackle health inequalities – obesity being a major factor in this. While some progress has been made, a much more robust and hard hitting strategy is required to tackle the greatest threat to the health of our children. Theresa May could lead the world in tackling obesity and type 2 diabetes and must put the nation’s health first."
