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Obesity: Ban snacking on public transport, top doctor says | Obesity: Ban snacking on public transport, top doctor says |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Snacking should be banned on public transport and extra taxes placed on unhealthy foods to tackle child obesity, England's outgoing chief medical officer says. | Snacking should be banned on public transport and extra taxes placed on unhealthy foods to tackle child obesity, England's outgoing chief medical officer says. |
In her final report as CMO, Dame Sally Davies also called for tighter rules on advertising and takeaways. | |
She said children needed more help as they were "drowning in a flood" of unhealthy options. | |
If ministers were not bold, she added, they would fail to cut obesity rates. | |
A target to halve rates by 2030 has been set. | |
Dame Sally said: "The unavoidable fact is that over time our environment has become very unhealthy without us realising. | Dame Sally said: "The unavoidable fact is that over time our environment has become very unhealthy without us realising. |
"Our children are now suffering from painful, potentially life-limiting disease. | "Our children are now suffering from painful, potentially life-limiting disease. |
"Our politicians need to be bold and help everyone embrace healthier life choices." | "Our politicians need to be bold and help everyone embrace healthier life choices." |
The obesity 'crisis' | The obesity 'crisis' |
The proportion of obese and overweight children has doubled in the past 30 years. | The proportion of obese and overweight children has doubled in the past 30 years. |
Today around a third are obese or overweight by the age of 11. | Today around a third are obese or overweight by the age of 11. |
The problem is most acute among girls - where the UK has one of the highest rates in the world. | The problem is most acute among girls - where the UK has one of the highest rates in the world. |
There are signs the increase has begun to level off, but among the most deprived communities rates are still increasing | There are signs the increase has begun to level off, but among the most deprived communities rates are still increasing |
Children living in the poorest tenth of areas are more than twice as likely to be obese than those in the richest. | Children living in the poorest tenth of areas are more than twice as likely to be obese than those in the richest. |
Obesity increases the risk of a range of diseases from cancer and heart disease to diabetes. | Obesity increases the risk of a range of diseases from cancer and heart disease to diabetes. |
In fact, until recently type two diabetes was considered an adult problem, but now there are more than 100 new cases each year. | In fact, until recently type two diabetes was considered an adult problem, but now there are more than 100 new cases each year. |
What needs to be done? | What needs to be done? |
Dame Sally has put forward a wide range of measures. Some are about extending existing policies, while others are completely new. | Dame Sally has put forward a wide range of measures. Some are about extending existing policies, while others are completely new. |
They include: | They include: |
Why stop people eating on buses and trains? | |
The most eye-catching announcement is the proposed ban on eating and drinking on public transport. | |
This is squarely aimed at children on the way to and from school and so will only apply on local transport - trains, buses, trams and metro networks. | |
Inter-city trains with buffet cars will not be covered, the CMO said. | |
The idea is to discourage snacking. | |
The ban will also apply to adults - she wants them to model good behaviour to children. | |
And she is suggesting there are exemptions for people who need to eat or drink because they have medical conditions that require them to. | |
Breast-feeding would also be allowed, while everyone will be able to drink water. | |
How taxing can help | How taxing can help |
Dame Sally said tax was an important lever for ministers. | Dame Sally said tax was an important lever for ministers. |
She highlighted the success of the sugar tax - a levy which has been applied on sugary drinks since last year. | She highlighted the success of the sugar tax - a levy which has been applied on sugary drinks since last year. |
Figures released last month showed that it had reduced sugar consumption by more than a fifth through a combination of people choosing lower sugar drinks and industry changing the sugar content of products. | Figures released last month showed that it had reduced sugar consumption by more than a fifth through a combination of people choosing lower sugar drinks and industry changing the sugar content of products. |
The fall came despite an increase in sales, and means the equivalent of 30,000 tonnes of sugar a year have been taken out of the nation's diet. | The fall came despite an increase in sales, and means the equivalent of 30,000 tonnes of sugar a year have been taken out of the nation's diet. |
But Dame Sally wants the government to go further by extending the tax to cover milk-based drinks. | But Dame Sally wants the government to go further by extending the tax to cover milk-based drinks. |
She also wants some anomalies in the VAT system to be tackled. | She also wants some anomalies in the VAT system to be tackled. |
Food is generally not taxed, but some unhealthy ones are, adding 20% to the price. | Food is generally not taxed, but some unhealthy ones are, adding 20% to the price. |
It means that a gingerbread man with chocolate-covered trousers is subject to VAT, but not if it only has chocolate eyes. | It means that a gingerbread man with chocolate-covered trousers is subject to VAT, but not if it only has chocolate eyes. |
Cakes, flapjacks and corn chips are zero-rated, but chocolate biscuits, cereal bars and crisps are not. | Cakes, flapjacks and corn chips are zero-rated, but chocolate biscuits, cereal bars and crisps are not. |
How advertising distorts the market | How advertising distorts the market |
Unhealthy foods are big business for advertisers. | Unhealthy foods are big business for advertisers. |
Around £300m a year is spent on promoting soft drinks, confectionery and sweet and savoury snacks - that's nearly half of the total spend on food and drink advertising. | Around £300m a year is spent on promoting soft drinks, confectionery and sweet and savoury snacks - that's nearly half of the total spend on food and drink advertising. |
By comparison just £16m goes on fruit and vegetables. | By comparison just £16m goes on fruit and vegetables. |
There are already restrictions on junk food advertising on TV and online. | There are already restrictions on junk food advertising on TV and online. |
But Dame Sally wants to go further, calling for a complete ban on unhealthy food and drink advertising. | But Dame Sally wants to go further, calling for a complete ban on unhealthy food and drink advertising. |
What are the chances of these steps being introduced? | What are the chances of these steps being introduced? |
The government published its last obesity strategy in 2018. The goal is to halve rates by 2030. | The government published its last obesity strategy in 2018. The goal is to halve rates by 2030. |
None of the headline measures recommended by Dame Sally are part of the current measures. | None of the headline measures recommended by Dame Sally are part of the current measures. |
Health Secretary Matt Hancock praised the work of the outgoing CMO, saying she had "done more than anyone to promote the health of the nation" over the past decade. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock praised the work of the outgoing CMO, saying she had "done more than anyone to promote the health of the nation" over the past decade. |
He said ministers would study the recommendations "closely". | He said ministers would study the recommendations "closely". |
But there are doubts about how reforming a government led by Boris Johnson will be in this area. | But there are doubts about how reforming a government led by Boris Johnson will be in this area. |
He has already expressed scepticism about so-called sin taxes such as the sugar levy, although a policy paper published just before he became prime minister did suggest the sugar levy could be extended to milk-based drinks. | He has already expressed scepticism about so-called sin taxes such as the sugar levy, although a policy paper published just before he became prime minister did suggest the sugar levy could be extended to milk-based drinks. |
Sally Warren, of the King's Fund think tank, said: 'The government should make full use of all the levers at its disposal to tackle obesity. | Sally Warren, of the King's Fund think tank, said: 'The government should make full use of all the levers at its disposal to tackle obesity. |
"Some politicians may baulk at the idea of the 'nanny state', but research suggests these types of intervention may enjoy stronger public support than they often assume." | "Some politicians may baulk at the idea of the 'nanny state', but research suggests these types of intervention may enjoy stronger public support than they often assume." |
Professor Dame Parveen Kumar, of the British Medical Association, said the government would "let down" children if it did not act. | Professor Dame Parveen Kumar, of the British Medical Association, said the government would "let down" children if it did not act. |