The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Supermarkets urged to act on obesity crisis
Study finds retailers placing unhealthy products in prominent areas
The layout, pricing strategies and shopping environment of supermarkets is fuelling the obesity epidemic, according to a study.
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and Slimming World are calling on supermarkets to do more to tackle obesity following the release of their Health On The Shelf report, which claims that marketing tactics are driving sales of unhealthy products.
More than a third of shoppers (36%) buy unhealthy products on impulse because they are on special offer, a survey for the study suggests, and one in five said supermarkets cause them to go off track when trying to lose weight.
An audit of small, local supermarkets found that many unhealthy products such as confectionery and crisps are located in multiple prominent areas around the store, including at the end of aisles and around the checkout.
The report recommends principles to apply to all major supermarket retailers, to include more shelf space for healthier products based on the government’s Eatwell Guide, recipe cards and cooking demonstrations on how to use ingredients to create healthy meals, and business rate reductions for retailers who adopt the moves.
RSPH chief executive Shirley Cramer said: “The environment in which we live is a major contributor towards obesity, and supermarkets have both the power and influence as well as a responsibility in tackling their contribution to this ‘obesogenic’ environment.”
Obesity is one of Scotland’s largest public health issues. Data shows the country has amongst the highest incidence of obesity in men and women in the OECD league of nations, although levels are relatively stable.
It is a contributor to several major health conditions including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer.
And its impact is financial too, with Scotland facing an estimated bill of up to £4.6 billion annually to deal with obesity-related harm.
People being seriously overweight is not new and there have been many attempts made over the years to turn the tide back towards a more healthy relationship with food.
Sugary drinks have come under the spotlight, as has fast food and promotions such as Buy One Get One Free that are designed to get consumers to load up their baskets.
However, while significant progress has been made, there is much more that can still be done to promote healthier lifestyles among the general public.
A new report looked at small, local supermarkets and found high-fat products such as confectionery and crisps were placed in several areas around stores to entice buyers.
The authors are now calling for major retailers to back guidelines to tip the scales back towards healthier choices.
Any suggestion to improve the nation’s health should be explored. After all, as every supermarket customer knows, every little helps in the fight against obesity.