Childhood obesity: are we really doing enough for our children’s health?

At a time when children are encouraged to be more active than ever before, childhood obesity levels are worryingly on the increase: are we really doing enough for our children’s health?

Once the danger of cigarettes and their attractiveness to children was realised, action was taken by the government to protect children from their harmful effects. Adverts promoting cigarettes were banned, the age limit was raised, cigarette machines in pubs were banned, plain packaging was introduced after displaying shocking photographs on the then-colourful cartons, and they also became hidden from view.  

Has the time now come for similar action to prevent childhood obesity?

Some retailers and manufacturers have taken steps to tackle this, such as removing snacks from checkouts and introducing traffic light labelling.

In 2016, the government launched its childhood obesity plan, and in April this year, also introduced a tax on sugary drinks –  but is this enough?

Bad eating habits begin in childhood. As demonstrated earlier this year on the BBC One series Britain’s Fat Fight with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, most children, when asked to choose their weekly shopping without their parents, loaded up their baskets with sugary foods.

Closer to home, a shocking one in every five children in Rochdale is obese before they leave primary school.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/119280/one-in-every-five-children-in-rochdale-is-obese-before-leaving-primary-school

Parents and guardians are the ones responsible for purchasing, or allowing the purchase of, junk products which are slowly damaging the next generation.

Drastic measures may take away peoples’ freedom of choice, but children are no longer expected to outlive their parents – the first generation not to do so – a frightening statistic.

According to the BBC One series, WH Smiths sell a staggering 900 items of confectionery every 45 seconds in the UK, and branded fridges stocking popular fizzy – and sugary – drinks are owned by the brand on a conditional basis that 70% of their products are stocked across the top three shelves.

Some vending machines – full of sugary drinks, and fat and sugar-laden snacks in their bright and colourful packets – also work in a similar manner and can be found in schools, hospitals and leisure centres, all places where children frequent.

Why is little being done to prevent their attractiveness to children, such as banning advertisements, changing packaging, and removing vending machines?

We asked all schools in the Rochdale Borough if they stock sugary fizzy drinks and other unhealthy snacks, such as chocolate.

Some did not respond, other schools confirmed they did not have vending machines stocking these items, with some having no vending machines at all: Spotland, Littleborough Community, Cardinal Langley, Kingsway High, Marland Hill, Heybrook Primary, Boarshaw, Shawclough Primary School, St Thomas More, St John Fisher RC Primary School, St Peters RC Primary.

We asked local MPs if they agree the time has now come for action to prevent the rise of obesity in children.

Liz McInnes, Heywood and Middleton MP, said: “These latest figures for obesity in children are truly shocking. Obesity in young people is a ticking time bomb not just for their own health but for the NHS which already spends a large amount of its budget on treating and managing obesity-related illness and disease.

“Last month I raised this issue with the Prime Minister in parliament, highlighting the fact that in Rochdale borough around one third of Year 6 pupils are overweight or obese, and urging her to support Jamie Oliver’s Ad Enough campaign which aims to tackle junk food advertising targeting children and young people.

“The time has come to take action and I will continue to work with colleagues in parliament to raise awareness of this growing crisis and to tackle the causes of childhood obesity.”

Tony Lloyd, Rochdale MP, said: “Tougher action is required to tackle childhood obesity.

"Let’s never undermine parents by shifting the blame on to them.

"The UK 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.

“The Government's watered-down obesity strategy, alongside cuts to public health and education budgets, demonstrates a profound lack of action. 

"I welcome the introduction of a levy on sugary drinks, which has already reduced sugar content in some drinks.

"We have got to develop a long-term strategy, as they have done in Scotland, which partners parents and demands more from the food industry and from points of sale.

“That must include challenging things like sugar-rich meal deals and action on advertising such as a ban on junk food advertising before the 9pm watershed and clearer labelling of food is essential.”

We asked Rochdale Borough Council and Link4Life if they are going to act on vending machines in their facilities, rather than simply relying on 'encouraging' people to make ‘healthy choices’.

Andrea Fallon, director of public health at Rochdale Council, said: “We are taking every opportunity available to us to make it easier for families to make healthy choices and we are working with our key partners to look at every opportunity to make our vending machine offer as healthy as possible.

“Tackling childhood obesity is highly complex and challenging and it is for this reason that we need to work together with parents and carers, as well as our partners, if we are to succeed in reducing childhood obesity.”

Link4Life – whose leisure centres house vending machines selling junk food – did not respond to an invitation to comment.

- - - - - - - - - -

UPDATE

The following schools also confirmed they do not have vending machines: Meanwood Community Nursery and Primary School, Stansfield Hall CE / Free Church Primary School, Belfield, Broadfield, Greenbank, Parkfield, Holy Trinity CE, St Michaels CE, Springsid, St Edward's CE, Caldershaw, Holy Family RC & CE College, All Saints’ C of E Primary School, St Mary’s CE Primary School, Middleton Tech., St Margaret's CE Primary, St Mary’s RC Primary.