This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Seven out of ten GPs back sugar tax, survey finds
The questionnaire found that 67 per cent supported the introduction of a sugar tax, with many supporting their decision by citing that people were still unaware about the damage sugary products do to their health and that more awareness needed to be raised. In opposition, 25 per cent of GPs did not condone the move.
A similar survey taken in 2014 showed that a less significant proportion, 52 per cent, of GPs supported a sugar tax, while 40 per cent opposed the move.
Public Health England has called for the government to introduce the tax, in its review on tackling the obesity epidemic. Furthermore, in July, the British Medical Assocation (BMA) called for a 20 per cent tax to be placed on sugary drinks, which they claimed would benefit 180,000 people.
Essex GP Dr Alice Hodkinson said: “People do not realise how much sugar is in the food they eat, particularly savoury food, and I would want to use the tax system to encourage people to eat less sugar and eat more fruit and veg. Ideally, I would plough the money back into making fruit and veg cheaper.”
Dr Hema Gore, a GP in Blackburn, said: “Sugar is addictive, toxic and it predisposes people to metabolic dysfunction, causes fatty infiltration of liver, increases diabetes, obesity and tooth decay. A higher tax on sugar will definitely reduce these problems.”
In contrast some respondents to the survey maintained that there were better solutions for resolving the obesity epidemic.
Dr Steve Lumb, a GP partner in the Durham Dales, said: “Better education on diet via the media, schools, health visitors, etc along with better labelling of foods would make more sense. I also agree with banning advertising of certain foods and drinks.”
The deputy chair of the BMA’s GP Committee, Dr Richard Vautrey, said: “The BMA has been campaigning for a sugar tax and we welcome the increased focus on this from Public Health England and through the Commons Health Committee.
“There is an urgent need to tackle the amount of hidden sugar in our diets which is a significant factor in the obesity crisis.”
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