THIS month, I want to address childhood obesity and proposals to restrict junk food advertising.
England has one of the worst childhood obesity rates in Western Europe and the gap between children from the most and least deprived backgrounds is rising.
It shocked me to read that one in four children in Year 6 and one in seven children in Reception are obese.
In 2019/20, there were over a million hospital admissions where obesity was a factor – a staggering 618 per cent rise compared to 2009/10.
I have two young boys and a granddaughter, so I am well aware of the challenges parents face when it comes to keeping their kids healthy.
I don’t think there are any simple solutions when it comes to tackling a problem like this, but in line with Cancer Research UK Bite Back 2030, I support a ban on junk food advertising before the 9pm watershed and similar restrictions online, alongside wider measures to tackle childhood obesity, reduce health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of all children in my constituency.
Obesity is the biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking and is linked to around 18,100 cancer cases a year in the UK, with the largest number of weight-linked cases in the UK being breast, bowel and womb.
Obesity is estimated to affect around one in every four adults and one in every five children aged 10 to 11 in the UK. According to CRUK, one in 20 UK cancers are linked to weight.
Despite legislating to restrict the advertising of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar – alongside a ban on multibuy deals – the Government has delayed these measures by a year.
Ministers said the delay is in response to the global economic situation, as well as giving the industry more time to prepare.
But public health experts and campaigners have raised concerns that the Government is turning its back on child health and it’s hard to disagree.
The need to tackle obesity and to support people in so doing is crucial to the health and wellbeing of individuals and the nation.
It is a growing challenge that exacerbates inequalities – but the decision to delay restrictions on junk food advertising risks undermining the obesity strategy. This is on top of a decade of cuts to public health services which has weakened efforts to support people to live healthier lives.
Radically improving children’s health and wellbeing must be a priority. I urge the government to take bold action on public health and create healthier food retail environments.
We are amid a childhood obesity crisis and we need concerted action to bring obesity levels down – our younger generation deserves better.