Don’t swallow all the myths served up about child obesity
MAYOR Sadiq Khan has made a grave error in banning fast-food advertising on the Transport for London network. He insists that the move won’t dent revenues but he’s denying economic reality.
The Mayor must get his priorities straight. He cannot afford to throw away more than £13 million in advertising revenues when TfL already faces a £1 billion operating deficit and an additional £200 million loss from the delays to Crossrail.
Supporters of the ban point to our supposed childhood obesity crisis as justification for such recklessness but there is no solid evidence to show that a similar ban in Amsterdam has had any effect on their children’s waistlines.
Let’s inject some facts into this debate. Childhood obesity figures are clearly inflated. Current measures say a quarter of children are obese in secondary school but miraculously the figure drops to just one in 10 the moment they leave. The “crisis” is based on a myth, and it’s been wheeled out to support a smorgasbord of paternalistic nonsense from milkshake bans to sugar taxes, while mandatory calorie counts on menus will make life worse for those with eating disorders.
There’s nothing sinister about a billboard with fast food on it. Adults should be free to weigh up the costs or benefits of the occasional burger, and parents should take more responsibility for their children
(who are just fine).
Daniel Pryor
Adam Smith Institute
HEALTH policy has to be based on evidence. The National Child Measurement Programme was set up in 2006 and each year records the weight and height of more than one million schoolchildren.
Last month it reported that a record number, 4.2 per cent, were “severely obese” by the time they were due to leave primary school. More than a third were overweight or obese.
This is not just a UK problem. The World Health Organisation says childhood obesity is reaching alarming proportions in many countries.
It is on this evidence that London Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to act. His intention is not to deprive TfL of much-needed income but to promote healthier diets.
Sadly, not all children have parents who are able to ensure they eat well. Many adults cannot manage it for themselves. Restricting the promotion of unhealthy food and drink may nudge many in the right direction. It may also reduce sales of junk food, and thus profits, thereby forcing food companies to change the make-up of what we eat. Alas, there’s no myth about obesity UK.
Ross