BDA Chair Criticises New Childhood Obesity Measures

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It has been the subject of conversation and debate for months, but the long-awaited release of the government’s childhood obesity plan has left health experts unimpressed.

Ministers have been working on a strategy to lower the rate of childhood obesity in the UK for several months, yet leading health experts have criticised the plans, labelling them “weak”.

At the moment, the UK has a childhood obesity rate of 1 in 3, which is among the highest in Western Europe. Experts were hoping for revolutionary plans that would transform the way foods are advertised and promote healthy habits from an early age. However, many have slammed the measures, stating that they don’t go far enough and won’t make any real difference.

Mick Armstrong, chair of the British Dental Association, expressed his disappointment at the lack of tighter controls on junk food and confectionery adverstising and said that a “real strategy” is needed to fight preventable childhood illnesses and iron out “health inequalities”.

The plans have also attracted criticism from representatives from the British Medical Association. Chairwoman of the board of science, Professor Parveen Kumar, said that government had failed to fulfil it’s promises and produced a “weak” strategy. The plan mentions a 20% reduction in sugar content, but this is not legally binding, it is merely a recommendation. There is also no mention of reducing salt and saturated fat in foods. Professor Kumar also said that children are used to poor diets and nothing will really change without a stronger, more robust approach.

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