Coronavirus leads PM to fight obesity

The prime minister will announce new measures to curb obesity next week, and they are expected to include a ban on junk food ads on television before 21:00.

It comes amid growing evidence that people who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for contracting coronavirus.

The measures have not yet been finalized, but are also likely to include a ban on online ads for unhealthy foods and limits on in-store promotions.

A food industry leader said it was a “slap in the face.”

The move marks a shift in the stance of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who previously criticized taxes on foods high in salt, fat and sugar, and described his views on fighting obesity as “libertarian.”

Mr. Johnson’s experience in intensive care during his treatment for Covid-19 is believed to have contributed to his change of position.

Speaking during a visit to general medicine surgery in East London, he said that although he was not normally a “babysitter or boss”, the country needed to lose weight to protect itself from a second spike.

He said, “Obesity is one of the real comorbidity factors. Losing weight, frankly, is one of the ways you can reduce your own risk of coronavirus.”

Obesity strategies have had a recent checkered history.

David Cameron, backed by NHS leaders, was set to unveil a wide range of restrictions on food marketing and advertising in England in the summer of 2016. He then abruptly left office and his successor Theresa May diluted or abandoned the most ideas.

Two years later, she had changed her mind, and her Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced plans to ban fast-food advertising before the television basin at 9:00 p.m. and prevent supermarkets from promoting little food products. healthy in stores.

These plans were put up for consultation but were left in limbo when Boris Johnson arrived in Downing Street a year ago.

His comments on the “continued uptick in nanny status” and the need for a “sin tax” overhaul were seen to mean he was against further intervention in people’s dietary choices.

But it has changed, and most of the 2018 plan now appears to be in place.

It could have been enacted now, but regardless of the time, the measures, including radical changes in the way food is advertised, are a significant move to tackle one of the greatest health challenges of our time.

Ministers are still finalizing the details of some anti-obesity measures, such as whether more prominent labeling of foods and drinks with high levels of sugar or salt is required.

Some restaurants may have to put calorie labels on menus.

Johnson is believed to likely go ahead with the advertising restrictions, and is considering banning promotions at the unhealthy food store.

BBC political correspondent Leila Nathoo said: “Although it is against his political instincts, Boris Johnson now wants to give the strategy a new impetus.”

“Previously, you were skeptical about taxes on unhealthy food and beverages and it is not yet clear how far your proposals will go beyond what was previously suggested.”

“Although obesity is linked to a host of health problems, the coronavirus connection clearly prompted the prime minister to act.”

Tim Rycroft, director of operations for the Food and Beverage Federation, said the rumored move was a “slap” to the food industry, which he said had worked “heroically” to keep the nation fed during the pandemic.

“He is going to ban food promotions 10 days before the chancellor launches the largest food promotion the country has ever seen,” he told Today. “It is going to put huge costs on the advertising industry and broadcasters at a time when the economy is in a pretty weak position.”

A letter from the Institute of Advertising Practitioners sent to the prime minister said a government impact assessment last year showed that a watershed at 9:00 p.m. on foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and salt would only remove about 1.7 calories per day from a child’s diet. the equivalent of half a Smartie

In the letter, CEO Paul Bainsfair wrote: “The introduction of such a draconian measure at this time could have profound repercussions for agencies and the advertising sector in general in terms of jobs and creative output, for very little end result. “

Game changer

Health and Social Work Minister Helen Whately told BBC Breakfast that an announcement was due “imminently.” She said she recognized obesity as “possibly the biggest health challenge” the country faced, “particularly with Covid.”

Tam Fry, president of the National Obesity Forum, told BBC Radio 4 Today that he believed the Prime Minister’s experience at St Thomas Hospital had been a “game changer” and that it was understood that the aim was to get people lose weight “before the next peak”.

He said: “There has not been a ban like this, but you have to try, and if after a period of time it proves not to be as effective, then maybe it will stop.

“In fact, it is a risk, but the problem is that the consequence of obesity is so great that the risks and bold measures must be established.”

He called for the sugar tax on soft drinks to be extended to other products.

The NHS says that most adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 are overweight, while those with a BMI of 30 to 39.9 are classified as obese. Another measure of excess fat is waist size: Men with a waist of 94 cm or more and women with a waist of 80 cm or more are more likely to develop obesity-related problems.

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