Next stage of childhood obesity plan announced

Public Health England (PHE) announces plans to consider the evidence, set guidelines and closely monitor progress on calorie reduction.

PHE will now consider the evidence on children’s calorie consumption and try to remove excess calories from the foods children consume the most.

Ready meals, pizzas, burgers and sandwiches are the types of foods likely to be included in the programme.

Sugar reformulation was the first step under the childhood obesity programme, however overconsumption of calories will continue to have a detrimental effect on the health of children without further action.

Reducing calorie consumption from sources other than sugar is vital to reversing the obesity trend, which shows that 1 in 3 children are either overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, more children in the UK than previously are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes - some as young as seven, and children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to be obese.

PHE will publish the evidence in 2018, and then consult with the food industry, trade bodies and health non-governmental organisations to develop guidance and timelines for the programme.

The Department of Health has also funded a £5 million National Institute for Health Obesity Research Policy Unit at University College London which will look to develop a better understanding on the causes of childhood obesity, including marketing to children and families, social inequalities, and the early years of childhood.

Philip Dunne, Minister of State for Health, said: “Too many of our children are growing up obese, which can lead to serious health complications. We all have a responsibility to help people live healthier lives, but with a third of children leaving primary school obese we must take a comprehensive approach and now focus on excess calories.

“This can only be done through strong guidance, grounded in evidence – that’s why we have funded a new £5 million dedicated Obesity Research Policy Unit to understand the deeper causes of obesity.”

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of PHE, said: “A third of children leave primary school overweight or obese and an excess of calories – not just excess sugar consumption – is the root cause of this.

“We will work with the food companies and retailers to tackle this as the next critical step in combating our childhood obesity problem.”

Russell Viner, Policy Research Unit Director and Professor of Adolescent Health, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said: “Obesity is one of the greatest health concerns of our time and we welcome this considerable and very timely investment from the government. We are delighted that the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health will host the new Obesity Policy Research Unit (OPRU). Preventing obesity in early life is key to turning the tide on this modern epidemic.”