New government strategy on childhood obesity announced

Published by Arthritis Research UK | 18 August 2016

The government has unveiled its new plans for tackling the burden of childhood obesity over the next decade.

Entitled Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action, the document outlines a number of measures that will be implemented over the next few years to reduce the healthcare burden that excess weight in youngsters can cause, as well as the economic costs. However, the plans have come under fire from medical professionals for not going far enough.

Key points of the strategy

The strategy revolves around a number of key points:

• A new levy on the soft drinks industry is to be introduced, with proceeds generated by the levy to be invested into programmes to reduce obesity and encourage physical activity and balanced diets for school-age children.
• The food and drink industry will be challenged to reduce overall sugar across several products contributing to children's sugar intakes by five per cent in the next year, with the aim of a 20 per cent reduction by 2020.
• Primary schools will be called upon to help children get at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day, while parents and carers will be asked to ensure children get the same amount at home.
• Funding support will be offered to companies researching ways of making their products healthier.
• More healthy food options will be made available in schools and via the public sector.
• A new voluntary healthy rating scheme will be introduced for primary schools to recognise and encourage their contribution to preventing obesity 
• Clearer food labelling standards will be ushered in to make it easier for families to pick healthy food options.

A mixed reception

Despite the broad-ranging nature of many of these reforms, the initial announcement has been met with a mixed response by health sector organisations and charity groups.

Professor Parveen Kumar, chair of the British Medical Association's board of science, accused the government of delivering a "weak plan" that went back on several of the promises made at an earlier stage of the process.

She said: "Although the government proposes targets for food companies to reduce the level of sugar in their products, the fact that these are voluntary and not backed up by regulation renders them pointless."

Conservative MP Dr Sarah Wollaston also expressed disappointment that large sections had been dropped from earlier draft versions; conversely, financial secretary to the Treasury Jane Ellison said the plan was the "most ambitious programme of reformulation that any developed country has taken".

The Arthritis Research UK view

Olivia Belle, Arthritis Research UK's director of external affairs, said: "While we welcome the government's ambition to tackle the issue of childhood obesity and the recognition that physical activity is important for muscle and bone strength, we are disappointed that osteoarthritis has not been highlighted as part of the report. Our research shows that there is a clear link between obesity and the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Inactivity and poor diet in childhood often leads to obesity in adults.

"Nearly nine million people are living with the daily pain of osteoarthritis in the UK, which can have a huge impact on everyday life. Without action to tackle rising levels of obesity, the number of people living in pain will skyrocket in the next 20 years. Arthritis Research UK believes inactivity and obesity need to remain top public health priorities."

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