Healthy options

Sir, At Cancer Research UK, we are urging the Scottish Government to curb the rising tide of obesity and restrict the array of multi-buy offers on junk food that supermarket shoppers are routinely faced with.

Celebrity chef and food campaigner Jamie Oliver agrees. His recent open letter to Scottish ministers reinforces a campaign which has received strong public support.

It’s a shocking reality that around a fifth of our school children in Scotland are carrying too much weight, meaning they are more likely to grow up overweight, placing them at risk of preventable cancers in adulthood.

Cancer Research UK believes the nation’s poor health justifies strong action. Restrictions on supermarket price promotions on unhealthy foods would be effective and feasible.

The Scottish Government has a chance to lead the way with brave new measures that would result in a healthier Scotland. Proposals for its new obesity strategy are anticipated soon and we hope they will be bold.

To those with families to feed, price does matter. We know the most deprived in our society consume the fewest fruit and vegetables. We buy what we consider to be good value for money and much more needs to be done to make healthy options affordable.

More needs to be done to help give children the best start in life. Measures to help us enjoy a better diet will make it easier for us all to take home smaller waistlines and healthier lives, as well as bags of tastier, fresher and more nutritious food.

Yours, Professor Linda Bauld Cancer Research UK