Reduce the amount of calories in food to help with child obesity

Kelly

7 years ago

Next step to help reduce child obesity

The government are urging food companies to reduce the number of calories in food that is aimed at children, this is to help with child obesity. To help fight child obesity government will hold companies accountable for the number of calories that are found in food that is aimed at children.

A Public Health England Programme will look closely at data regarding the number of calories in readily available foods, results from this programme will be published early in 2018.

With an increase in a number of children becoming obese, a stronger focus on helping reduce this is very much needed. Obesity can lead to serious health complications, reducing the risk of children living a healthy life.

There is already a ‘comprehensive sugar reduction programme’, in place, this is to help reduce sugar in key foods by 20 per cent by 2020. Also, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy has now become law, coming into effect in April 2018.

It is believed that many children leave primary school overweight, and the reason for this is the excess amount of calories, therefore it is critical that more is done to help fight this problem.

Guidelines and timescales will be published to food companies outlining the work that is needed to reduce the calorie intake in foods that are aimed at children.