Our poor health is exacting far too high a price

As the Scottish Government prepares to publish proposals for tackling obesity, Professor Linda Bauld of Cancer Research UK sets out the changes the charity would like to see

Look around any primary school playground in Tayside and you can expect to see almost a quarter of the children there carrying too much weight. It’s a shocking reality, a stark reflection of the obesity epidemic that’s currently gripping Scotland and one that poses the threat of serious health consequences in the future.

An obese child is around five times more likely to be an obese adult, storing up health problems for their entire lives and placing them at risk of preventable cancers. Surely this tells us it really is time to take action.

At Cancer Research UK we believe the Scottish Government can and must do more.

The realisation that Scotland is bearing the weight of the high cost of obesity has dawned in the halls of power. In its recently published manifesto, the SNP acknowledges the issue is one of the biggest challenges facing the nation’s health.

It also expresses the SNP’s disappointment with the UK Government’s childhood obesity plan, which was published last year.

We agree – the UK obesity strategy didn’t go far enough to make a significant difference.

Now, 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.

Cancer Research UK is clear that one of the most effective measures the Scottish Government can take to curb the rising tide of obesity is to restrict the array of multibuy offers on unhealthy food that supermarket shoppers are routinely faced with.

And of course, price does matter. Studies have shown that the most deprived in our society consume the fewest fruit and vegetables.

They also consume the highest amounts of sugar, processed meat products and chips.

We buy what we consider to be good value for money and much more needs to be done to make healthy options affordable.

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.

We want to help give children the best start in life and reduce their risk of developing cancer in their lifetime.

Measures to help us enjoy a better diet will make it easier for us all to stack the odds in our favour of not getting cancer.

Picture: Getty. Cancer Research UK wants to see restrictions on supermarket promotions of unhealthy foods.