Ban food on public transport to tackle childhood obesity

“The government should put children’s health before companies’ profits, says the outgoing chief medical officer in a hard-hitting report calling for tough action against junk food, including a ban on eating and drinking on public transport, to tackle obesity.

Dame Sally Davies, in her final report as CMO for England, said: “Today’s children are drowning in a flood of unhealthy food and drink options, compounded by insufficient opportunities for being active.

“I want to see our children’s health, not companies’ profits, put at the forefront of government policy. It is every child’s right to live in a world that promotes, not harms, their health.”

Among the recommendations are bans on promoting and advertising junk food, which would prevent deals such as that just struck between the England and Wales Cricket Board and KP Snacks. She also called for a ban on eating and drinking on public transport with exceptions for drinking fresh water and eating and drinking for medical conditions. In addition, she recommended price hikes through VAT changes on junk foods high in salt, sugar or fat, with the option of plain packaging as there is for cigarettes.

Her report, she said, “is aimed at politicians and policy makers, now and in the future”. It was intended to reframe the issue, she told the Guardian. Obesity is about children’s right to a healthy life, Davies said, adding that the public want the government to take action to deal with it and politicians need no longer fear accusations of nanny statism.

She said: “I think the polling data is pretty clear. The public think it’s time that governments acted to protect their children. Overweight and obesity is because we are all in this flood of unhealthy food marketing and advertising. We need to close those floodgates.

“It’s the right of children to live in a healthy environment and with proper nutrition. What we’ve done to date has not stopped the problem.”

Ten in every 30 primary school children are now overweight or obese. Each week the equivalent of 13 school buses of children are admitted to hospital for tooth extraction under general anaesthetic because of decay caused by sugar, she said, adding: “That’s damaging children, costing the NHS.”

In later life it leads to heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.”

Article: Ban eating on public transport to tackle obesity, urges outgoing chief medic - by the Guardian

Poll question: Are you for or against banning food on public transport?