Ban on junk food promotions to tackle obesity investigated

A new obesity strategy was launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as part of the UK government’s efforts to reduce obesity levels by saying it will be supportive rather than ‘excessively bossy or nannying’, urging people to lose weight to beat coronavirus and protect the NHS.

It would see a ban on TV and online adverts for food high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm, an end of deals like ‘buy one get one free’ on unhealthy food high in salt, sugar and fat, as well as calories to be displayed on menus.

In addition a new campaign, called Better Health, has been launched to help people lose weight, get active and eat better after Covid-19 and is classed as a ‘wake-up call’.

The commission’s eat well & healthier weight lead, Lucy Whitman, said it welcomed the UK government’s prioritisation of action to support the population to eat well and be active more easily and to increase the support available to those who would like to manage their weight.

‘These are complex areas that require a network of actions and support and are highly dependent on supportive policies and environments, in order that options are realistically available to everyone across society,’ she said.

‘Importantly, a number of the actions set out in the latest UK government policy paper acknowledge the significant impact of the “food environment” – what sort of food is available, affordable, promoted and normal – has on what we buy and eat.

‘The changes to food marketing and advertising proposed in the policy paper are likely to have an effect in the Bailiwick too and we are looking into local requirements with regards other actions, such as restriction on promotions and calorie labelling.’

Tackling obesity has been brought to the fore by evidence of the link to an increased risk from Covid-19.

Evidence suggests living with excess weight puts people at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19, with risk growing substantially as body mass index increases.

In the UK, 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.

In Guernsey, the commission has taken on a number of ongoing actions under the Eat Well and Be Active strands of the Bailiwick’s Healthy Weight Strategy and despite several of the projects being affected by Covid-19, many have now started again.

‘Whilst lockdown inevitably affected the nature of the projects the commission could deliver, the Eat Well, Be Active and Healthier Weight teams rapidly adapted projects and diverted resources,’ Ms Whitman added.

‘Not only were the projects moved forward wherever possible, support to keep well at home was provided through our website and social media and new resources for parents and health professionals, including an Eat the Rainbow resource, which is due to be adopted across around 250 schools in Leeds.

‘The #getoutthere campaign aims to build on the momentum of physical activity during lockdown and we directly supported over 1,500 portions of fresh veg and fruit into food parcels through the Guernsey Welfare Service.’

Projects include the ‘Mini Munch’ programme to support eating well in Early Years settings, specialised training for the Health Visiting Service to deliver group behaviour change support, the new School Nutrition Action Group and College of FE food provision, as well as the development of a new Be Active Framework for schools.

‘The commission is looking forward to building on the projects [and] integrating [them] with the States’ ambition within Revive & Thrive,’ said Ms Whitman.

‘That “the well-being of the community should be kept at the heart of the recovery” and looking to help create physical, social and economic environments where it is affordable, easy and normal to eat well, be active and support a healthier weight.’

n An online directory, which signposts people to support for healthy weight, nutrition support and activity, can be accessed via www.healthconnections.gg/directory.