‘Tax sugar now to reverse childhood obesity epidemic’
HEALTH campaigners renewed calls for a sugar tax yesterday after a study blamed junk food for a tenfold increase in child obesity over the past 40 years.
One in 10 children in the UK is now obese. Obesity rates for British girls are the sixth highest in Europe while boys rank 18th.
Researchers say a sugar tax, cheaper fruit and vegetables and a curb on processed food are needed.
While claiming the rise has levelled off, they also warned of a ticking timebomb for the NHS as obese children are more likely to be fat as adults and suffer related ill health.
The global study, led by Imperial College London and the World Health Organisation, warned governments need to do more to turn the tide.
Study author Dr James Bentham, of the University of Kent, said: “Rates of child and adolescent obesity have increased significantly over the past four decades in most countries in the world.
“While average BMI among children and adolescents has recently plateaued in Europe and North America, this is not an excuse for complacency as more than one in five young people in the US and one in 10 in the UK are obese.” UK health organisations welcomed the findings. Helen Dickens, of Diabetes UK, said: “Being overweight or obese puts you at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. “With junk food companies continuing to pour millions into advertising their products, we urgently need the Government to introduce tougher restrictions on junk food marketing.” Tam Fry, Child Growth Foundation chairman and spokesman for the National Obesity Forum, said: “Don’t be fooled by a report which initially would have you believe child obesity levels have plateaued in the UK. “The cost of obesity to the country should make Treasury and health ministers’ hair stand on end and frighten them into action.” Published in The Lancet, the global survey found the number of obese five to 19-year-olds rose from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2016, with 213 million more deemed overweight. Lead author Prof Majid Ezzati, of Imperial’s School of Public Health, said: “We need ways to make healthy, nutritious food more available at home and school, especially in poor communities, and regulations and taxes to protect children from unhealthy foods.”