It's right to urge action from business, but calories aren't everything

13 October 2011

The Coalition Government has published its Call to Action on obesity and signalled that businesses must play a greater role in tackling the problem.

The Department of Health's plan is aimed at reversing the tide of excess weight in England and calls for the nation to slash five billion calories of its daily diet.

According to the new Call to Action, the problem of obesity must be tackled through continued investment in the Change4Life programme; local authorities using their powers and ring-fenced funding; and the food and drinks industry extending and intensifying their efforts in helping people make healthy choices.

It's disappointing to see such an emphasis on just cutting calories

More than a quarter of adults in the UK are obese, and the condition is major risk factor for heart disease.

Dr Mike Knapton, our Associate Medical Director, said: “Obesity is without doubt one of the most significant and dangerous public health issues of our time and the food and drinks industry has a very important role to play.

"The Department of Health is right to recognise that but it's disappointing to see such an emphasis on just cutting calories. There are lots of other things to consider too, like reducing saturated fat.

“If industry wants to be part of the solution then they should make sure we all have the information we need to make healthy choices, so colour-coded front-of-pack labelling must show calories but also saturated fat, salt and sugar.”

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