Obesity: Ban snacking on public transport, top doctor says
Whilst not ostensibly a rural story the public health messages from this news item are very clear. Some people think that these utterances are a bit radical but that’s the licence you have at the end of the tenure of an important like the one Sally Davies has held. More power to her elbow for making an important issues of it. Oh and by the way there are plenty of what my mother would describe as “big boned” kids in rural England!! This story tells us:
Snacking should be banned on public transport and extra taxes placed on unhealthy foods to tackle child obesity, England’s outgoing chief medical officer says.
In her final report as CMO, Dame Sally Davies also called for tighter rules on advertising and takeaways.
She said children needed more help as they were “drowning in a flood” of unhealthy options.
If ministers were not bold, she added, they would fail to cut obesity rates.
A target to halve rates by 2030 has been set.
Dame Sally said: “The unavoidable fact is that over time our environment has become very unhealthy without us realising.
“Our children are now suffering from painful, potentially life-limiting disease.
“Our politicians need to be bold and help everyone embrace healthier life choices.”
The proportion of obese and overweight children has doubled in the past 30 years.
Today around a third are obese or overweight by the age of 11 in England – with a minority, but growing number, classed as severely obese.