New Government Plans to Combat Obesity

The government has announced new plans to make it easier for customers to buy healthy foods. Supermarkets and food manufacturers in England will work with the government to encourage people to make healthier choices.

Encouraging Healthy Choices

The ministers say that it is up to food companies to decide how to do this, but it could involve offering advertising campaigns for healthy food, optimizing loyalty points to promote healthy options, or changing shop layouts. It could also involve changing products to make them healthier.

Relieving Pressure on the NHS

It is hoped that the plans will help make healthy eating more accessible to customers and relieve pressure on the NHS. Large food companies will be required to report on healthy food sales to increase accountability, and targets will be agreed in partnership with industry.

Part of a Broader Plan

The plan is part of a number of measures aimed at improving the health of the nation, which will be included in the 10-year plan for the NHS in England. The health secretary has stated that the ambition of the government is for children today to be part of the healthiest generation of children of all time.

The Current State of Obesity

The upcoming report will show that more than one in five children live with obesity when they leave primary school, and in the most disadvantaged areas, this rises to almost one in three. A recent report found that a basket of healthy food costs more than twice as much as a basket of less healthy options.

Industry Response

The British Retail Consortium has said that the news is "really positive", but that all food companies need to work together to tackle obesity. The director of the Obesity Health Alliance has said that the government has rightly identified the root cause of obesity-related disease: a food system that makes healthy eating difficult.

Additional Measures

In addition to the new partnership, the government has announced several other measures, including:

• Offering customers a shopping voucher to be active and eat healthy via a new app
• Doubling the number of places in the NHS program for digital weight management
• Introducing stricter rules for advertising alcohol, in line with current regulations to promote junk food

Reducing Sugar and Calorie Intake

It is hoped that the new guidance will reduce the overall sugar and calorie intake of the population as a whole. The government has cited research that shows that reducing daily calorie intake by just 50 calories could take 340,000 children and two million adults out of obesity.

Limitations of the Plan

While the plan has been welcomed, some have expressed concerns that its effects may be limited. The King’s Fund Think Tank has said that local convenience shops and snack bars are often where less healthy food and drinks are bought, and that unhealthy foods are often far cheaper and! easier to access.