Associate Feature: It’s time to turn words into action on child healthy weight in Scotland

It has now been nearly six years since the Scottish Government first stated its ambition to halve childhood obesity in Scotland by 2030. This felt like a significant turning point for children’s health, with the government also releasing a comprehensive strategy to support the ambition which included strong, evidence-based policy actions. 

Since 2018, however, this encouraging start from policymakers has proved to be just that – a start. In the past six years, very few of the actions outlined in the healthy weight strategy have been delivered, and policies that have managed to get off the ground have moved slowly. All the while, Scotland has seen the health of its children decline even further. The latest data shows that 18% of children aged 2-15 are now at risk of developing obesity, which is nearly three times the prevalence target linked to the 2030 ambition (7%). Rates of overweight and obesity risk in Primary 1 children have also remained stubbornly high, now sitting at 22% (the equivalent of five children in a class of 24). Across both data sources for children’s weight in Scotland, those from more deprived backgrounds are at greater risk of developing overweight and obesity.

Fortunately, policy leaders still have some key opportunities to reverse this trajectory. Evidence strongly indicates that the main drivers of overweight and obesity at the population level can be found in the environments people are exposed to in everyday life. Our modern food environment presents significant barriers to accessing healthy food options, which in turn can stifle healthy diets and weight. If policymakers can address these root causes, they can improve healthy weight outcomes considerably.

Currently, there is one structural driver of children’s health that is well within the government’s sights: unhealthy food and drink promotions. In this context, promotions can be defined as any tactic used by shops to increase sales of products by changing their perceived price (e.g. multi buy deals, 50% off) or by placing them in more prominent locations in shops (e.g. entrances, end of aisles). In Scotland, 23% of the food we buy comes via price promotions, and, importantly, a large proportion of these purchases are for products that contain high levels of fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) which are known to contribute to higher weight and poor health outcomes. 

To address this, the Scottish Government is consulting on details to restrict promotions of HFSS products in shops and online. This doesn’t mean promotions will disappear altogether; shops will just need to use them on food and drink products which meet a healthy nutritional standard. The benefits of this move are likely to be significant. Families and children will face less pressure to buy products which are harmful, while potentially gaining better access to healthier options. Food manufacturers and shops will be able to operate on an even competitive plane where those who offer healthy products can continue to benefit from promotional sales.

Although these regulations will be a huge positive for children’s health if delivered effectively, policymakers have more work to do. The government’s healthy weight strategy also identifies unhealthy food and drink advertising as a powerful and harmful influence on population diets. A recent report published by the Scottish Obesity Alliance showed that young people feel they are bombarded with junk food adverts everywhere they go – a finding that should concern policymakers. Addressing harmful advertising is another crucial piece of the puzzle, but one that has seen no progress since its recognition in 2018. 

All in all, it is encouraging to see the Scottish Government taking steps towards measures that will protect children’s health. All political parties need now to press on and turn more commitments into real action.

This article is sponsored by Obesity Action Scotland

www.obehttp://www.obesityactionscotland.org/sityactionscotland.org/