Young people brainstorm measures to tackle child obesity

Almost one in five 10 to 11-year-olds in the UK are obese. Yet until now, young people have never been asked why they think that might be.

A groundbreaking study - 'The Child’s Obesity Strategy' - published by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), the Youth Health Movement, and Slimming World, is the first time children have been consulted on the causes of child obesity.

The results of the survey show children are very clear on the causes, and interestingly, that their views are largely in line with those of child obesity experts.

The report finds that almost half of young people (49%) blame fast food takeaways and the companies or brands most at fault for childhood obesity, while 82% believe food manufacturers are misleading young people when they provide fat, salt and sugar for single servings rather than for the entire product.

“This report gives a uniquely young person’s perspective on what steps can and should be taken,” said Shirley Cramer, chief executive of RSPH. “And while there is no silver bullet, young people are very clear what they think the causes of obesity are, and what action they would like to see from Government and industry in particular.”

The report also shows that young people felt the availability of fast food was a key factor. Almost a quarter of young people said they had ordered fast food takeaways to their schools, and more than two in five (42%) said they can walk from their school to somewhere selling unhealthy food in under two minutes.

Public Health England (PHE), welcomed the innovative study which it said complimented its own research.

“What we see on the street, in our shops and in the media encourages us to consume too many calories which leads to weight gain and even obesity,” said Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE.

“This is why our evidence review on how to help people cut down on sugar proposes controls on marketing, advertising and promotions of high sugar products and reducing the sugar in food and drink.”

The research is the result of a roundtable workshop involving 19 young people aged 13-17 and a follow-up survey of more than 500 children. Those consulted also identified a number of steps which could be taken by food manufacturers, retailers, Government and others to help tackle childhood obesity. Their recommendations include:

• Fast food firms should be banned from delivering to schools (supported by 50%);

• Nutrition information on food packaging should be provided specifically for young people, not just for adults (supported by 87%);

• The number of teaspoons of sugar a soft drink contains should be displayed on the packaging (supported by 84%);

• Packaging should display nutrition information for the whole product, not per serving (supported by 82%);

• Supermarkets should give out ‘wonky’ fruit and veg to kids for free in their shops to limit pester power (supported by 80%);

• A loyalty card that gives points for healthy food choices should be made available (supported by 78%);

• Unhealthy food should be positioned away from the eye line of children to limit pester power (supported by 53%);

• Food that is high in fat, salt or sugar could display film-style classifications such as PG, 12, 15 (supported by 33%);

• Free Wi-Fi should be offered in healthy environments like parks, rather than in fast food restaurants (32% say they have gone to a fast food takeaway specifically because they offer free Wi-Fi).

“It is so refreshing to hear the voices of children asking policymakers to support them by improving the obesogenic environment,” said Paul Sacher, child obesity expert and Slimming World advisor.

“Interestingly, many of the steps identified by the young people are steps that have been previously identified by experts but not acted on by the Government. Let's hope that many of these issues, important to young people, will be tackled in the upcoming childhood obesity strategy.”

Nearly one in five 10-11 year olds (19.1%) are obese, which is directly linked to many serious medical and psychological problems such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and mental health issues. However, the Government’s much delayed childhood obesity strategy is still yet to be released.

A Department of Health spokesperson said in a statement: "We are determined to tackle obesity and our comprehensive childhood obesity strategy will build on measures we are already taking, like the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. The strategy will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and set out what more can be done by all.”

As well as calling for a ban on fast food takeaway deliveries to schools, ‘The Child’s Obesity Strategy,’ recommends the introduction of new initiatives such as ‘film-style’ classifications on unhealthy food, and a loyalty card to reward healthy food choices.

“Our childhood obesity rates are disappointing, and tackling this must be a priority for government,” added Cramer.

“There can be no excuses for fudging action on what is our number one public health challenge. It is absolutely critical that the forthcoming childhood obesity strategy builds on this positive step with a basket of hard-hitting measures, from greater controls on advertising and marketing of junk food to food reformulation.”

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