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Action on Sugar

Childhood Obesity Plan

Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action

In August 2016, the government released their Childhood Obesity Plan in an attempt to reduce England's rate of childhood obesity within 10 yearsNearly a third of children aged 2 to 15 are overweight or obese and younger generations are becoming obese at earlier ages and staying obese for longer. Reducing obesity levels will save lives as obesity doubles the risk of dying prematurely from diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The government cited economic analyses which suggest that in the UK we spend more on treating largely preventable conditions such as obesity and diabetes than on the police, fire service and judicial system combined. In 2014/2015, NHS England spent £5.1 billion on treating overweight and obesity-related ill-health.

In their initial 2016 plan, the government proposed the following measures:

  • Implement a Soft Drinks Industry Levy
  • Take out 20% of sugar in products
  • Support innovation of healthier food products
  • Update the nutrient profile model
  • Increase availability of healthier options in terms of location and cost
  • Increase physical activity levels of children
  • Instigate a health rating system for primary schools and make school food healthier
  • Clear food labelling
  • Focus on early year’s programmes and structures
  • Use new technology e.g apps for weight management
  • Train health professionals to reach out to patients regarding weight and health problems

Click here to read Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action

Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action, Chapter 2

In June 2018, the government released an extension of their original Childhood Obesity Plan with a more focused aim of halving childhood obesity and significantly reducing the gap in obesity between children by 2030

Added initiatives included:

  • Potential extension of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to sugary milk-based drinks
  • Consult on a ban on the sale of energy drinks to children under the age of 16 years
  • Potential mandatory and fiscal measures if the 2019 progress report shows poor progress with voluntary sugar reduction
  • Implement a calorie reduction programme, to reduce calories by 20% in a range of everyday foods consumed by children by 2024
  • Consult on mandated calorie labelling for the out of home sector
  • Explore the opportunities 'Brexit' presents for nutrition labelling 
  • Consult on the introduction of a 9pm watershed on TV advertising of HFSS products and similar protection for children viewing adverts online
  • Consult on banning price promotions, such as buy one get one free and multi-buy offers of unhealthy foods and drinks in the retail and out of home sector 
  • Consult on banning the promotion of unhealthy food and drink by location (at checkouts, the end of aisles and store entrances) in the retail and out of home sector
  • Develop a 'trailblazer' programme with local authority partners as case studies of "what works"
  • Develop resources that support local authorities create healthy food environments
  • Update the School Food Standards to reduce sugar consumption
  • Consult on strengthening the nutrition standards in the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services
  • Promote a national ambition for every primary school to adopt an active mile initiative, such as the Daily Mile
  • Invest over £1.6million during 2018/19 to support cycling and walking to school
  • Consult on plans to use Healthy Start vouchers to provide additional support to children from lower income families

Click here to read the Childhood Obesity Plan: A Plan for Action, Chapter 2

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