Food deals are ‘helping to fuel obesity crisis’
discounting in shops can encourage people to buy unhealthy foods, research has shown.
it comes as the scottish government considers action to ban buy-one-get-one-free (BogoF) offers and other multibuy deals on food high in salt, sugar or fat.
cancer Research uK found most people think both BogoFs and multibuy discounting encourage people to buy unhealthy food. it also found more than half of scots support plans to restrict promotions on products such as crisps and chocolate.
the charity’s cancer prevention expert, Edinburgh university professor Linda Bauld, said: ‘sadly, scotland’s weight problem is becoming ever obvious and it’s clear from this survey that the public recognise the damaging impact of price promotions.
‘the scottish government has a role to play to help us all eat a better diet.
‘the introduction without delay of world-leading laws to prevent price promotions from continuing to fuel scotland’s obesity epidemic would be an important step towards turning the tide on a crisis that’s damaging the health of so many people.
‘the health consequences of scotland’s obesity epidemic are profound. An obese child is five times more likely to be an obese adult and carrying too much weight is linked with 13 different types of cancer.’
More than a fifth of scottish children are overweight and 30 per cent of adults are now obese.
the Yougov survey of 1,037 scots found that 85 per cent think deals offering extra items for free encouraged people to buy unhealthy food, while just 10 per cent said it had no or not much influence. the survey also found that 56 per cent of parents support plans to restrict offers such as BogoFs on unhealthy food, while 32 per cent were opposed.
the scottish government is targeting chocolates, cakes and soft drinks as well as snacks such as crisps. it proposes a ban on two-for-one type deals and promotional tactics such as placing treats at the end of supermarket aisles or at checkouts.
Professor steve turner, scottish officer of the Royal college of Paediatrics and child Health at the university of Aberdeen, said: ‘obesity often continues from childhood into adulthood and adult obesity is a major preventable risk factor for cancer and is associated with a wide range of illnesses and premature death.
‘in scotland, too much sugary food and drink is purchased on price promotion. the tide must be turned on this. the future health of scotland’s children depends on it.’
the Food and drink Federation in scotland has accused the scottish government of ‘punishing’ businesses, saying there is no evidence of the effectiveness of banning promotions in tackling obesity.
A scottish government spokesman said: ‘tackling obesity is a public health priority and our diet and healthy weight delivery plan includes a wide range of bold measures designed to help families make healthier choices.
‘A key component of this is ending our damaging relationship with food that is high in fat, sugar or salt, and reducing associated health harms.
‘one of the ways we are seeking to do this is by restricting the promotion and marketing of some foods high in fat, sugar or salt with little or no nutritional benefit and it is encouraging that a majority of parents in cancer Research’s poll back this.’
‘Damaging impact of promotions’