Plans to tackle ‘obesity time bomb’ unveiled; special deals on junk food to end

Prime Minister Boris Johnson used his own struggle with weight on Monday to urge the British to get fitter and tackle widespread obesity that could heighten coronavirus risks.

New government measures to help people shed weight include banning TV and online adverts for junk food before 9.00 p.m., ending “buy one get one free” deals on such foods, and flagging calories on menus of large restaurants.

There will also be a ban on these items being placed in prominent locations in stores, such as at checkouts and entrances, and online. Instead, shops will be encouraged to promote healthier choices and offer more discounts on food like fruit and vegetables.

Alongside these measures, the government will also launch a consultation on displaying calories on alcohol.

Johnson, 56, who has lost more than a stone (6 kg) since a life-threatening brush with COVID-19, was responding to research showing that those who are obese or overweight are at increased risk of death or severe illness from the disease.

Last month, Johnson said British people were fatter than most European counterparts apart from Malta and his government targeted “tackling the obesity time bomb”.

“I’ve always wanted to lose weight for ages and ages and like many people I struggle with my weight, I go up and down. But since I recovered from coronavirus I have been steadily building up my fitness,” he said in a Twitter video on Monday.

The plan, which the Guardian estimated would cost £10 million, marks a U-turn by the prime minister, who has long railed against the interventionist “nanny state”.

Johnson said he hoped the new health campaign was not “excessively bossy” but rather a gentle nudge for Britain to get fitter.

With more than 60 per cent of adults in Britain considered overweight or obese, according to Public Health England (PHE), a “Better Health” campaign will be introduced with weight management services expanded in the National Health Service.

A PHE study published on Saturday found that obesity increased the risk of death from coronavirus by 40 percent.

‘Missed Opportunity’

The opposition Labour Party said it had heard “big promises” from the ruling Conservatives before and criticised them for past health service cuts.

“An effective obesity strategy needs action, not consultation,” said Labour’s health and social care policy chief Alex Norris. “The Tories (Conservatives) have pared public health to the bone and people are paying the price for ten years of this complacency.”

Responding to the plans, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said the new restrictions on promoting and advertising everyday food and drink will increase food prices.

“A new government focus on the promotion of physical activity is welcome, but this package looks like a terrible missed opportunity,” said Tim Rycroft, chief operating officer at FDF.

“At the heart of this programme are old and discredited policies that will raise prices, limit choice and hit two of the UK’s most successful industries.

“If price promotions are banned, already hard-pressed shoppers can expect to see their weekly shop become more expensive, at a cost of £600 per family. We have already seen evidence of this during the current crisis. Government policies should not put further pressure on rising food costs, which will disproportionately hit the tightest household budgets.”

James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, cautioned against the regulations “that would make life harder for shops that are maintaining access to food for their communities.”

“Restrictions on where products can be sited would not be workable for small stores. Convenience stores are small, so the introduction of restrictions on where products can be sited would present retailers with significant practical and operational challenges,” he pointed out.

With Agencies