A new obesity strategy has been unveiled as country urged to lose weight to beat coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect the NHS today.
Although this new strategy is not targeted at childhood obesity, it represents a new focus on empowering all to embrace a healthier lifestyle and lose weight. The key points are:
- The introduction of a new campaign: A call to action for everyone who is overweight to take steps to move towards a healthier weight, with evidence-based tools and apps with advice on how to lose weight and keep it off
- The expansion of weight management services available through the NHS, so more people get the support they need to lose weight
- Publishing a 4-nation public consultation to gather views and evidence on our current ‘traffic light’ label to help people make healthy food choices
- Introduction of legislation to require large out-of-home food businesses, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 employees, to add calorie labels to the food they sell
- A consultation on the intention to make companies provide calorie labelling on alcohol
- Legislation to end the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) by restricting volume promotions such as buy one get one free, and the placement of these foods in prominent locations intended to encourage purchasing, both online and in physical stores in England
- A ban on the advertising of HFSS products being shown on TV and online before 9pm and holding a short consultation as soon as possible on how we introduce a total HFSS advertising restriction online
You can access the Policy Paper from the link below:
Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives
June O’Sullivan, CEO of LEYF has written the following blog in relation to this new policy:
Pat A Cake, Pat A Cake, Bake Me a Low Fat, Sugarless Cake
NurseryWorld have also published an article: Government launches new obesity strategy