11 June 2004
The obesity debate was on the menu again this week as doctors called for a ban on advertising junk food to children.
Delegates at the British Medical Association's annual public health conference on June 7 urged the food industry to take a more responsible attitude to the marketing of products with little nutritional value.
Dr Stephen Watkins, chair of the BMA's public health policy committee, said: 'It is utterly wrong for industry, for purely commercial motives, to persuade people to harm themselves and especially wrong when they use children to do so.'
But government also has its part to play, Watkins added. He said Choosing health, the Department of Health's consultation paper on how to foster healthy diets and active lifestyles, was 'very disappointing'.
'It is putting the emphasis on individuals,' Watkins told Public Finance. 'It neglects the issue of empowering people to make healthy choices, which is just as important.'
The BMA wants to see health services and local authorities working together to provide safe playing areas and healthy food for children to avert what it predicts will be a major public health crisis.
The government has so far resisted taking action on obesity and insists on prolonging the debate. Last month Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said she would not be rushed into pushing through measures.
But doctors are contemptuous of ministers' love of consultation. Delegates at the conference approved a motion that 'deplores the government's use of “consultation” as a means to avoid taking essential public health action'.
The BMA's public health committee is to consider how its anti-obesity policies can be translated into an effective campaign.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman dismissed as 'speculation' reports that ministers are to impose a 'fat tax' on food companies to generate revenue for children's sports facilities. But he said policy in this area would be crystallised following next month's Spending Review. 'We are looking at ways in which the private sector can improve grassroots sports facilities.'
PFjun2004
