October 21, 2015

expert reaction to evidence given to the Health Select Committee on the childhood obesity strategy

This included comments from Dr Alison Tedstone of Public Health England that fiscal measures have a role in reducing sugar consumption but that three other measures rank above a sugar tax (tackling promotions, advertising and sugar content via reformulation and portion sizes).

The SMC produced a Factsheet on sugar and health which is available here: http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/sugar-and-health/

Prof. Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine, University of Glasgow, said:

“A widespread tax on sugary drinks must be done and trialled and could work – the evidence from other countries that the impact of such tax may be best in more deprived communities is in fact welcome in my opinion since obesity rates are highest in poorer areas in UK – it’s the low hanging fruit for intervention BUT it must not be seen as the end of interventions but only a start to a package of measures including reformulation of foods to contain not only less sugar but in particular less fat and more fibre.   Multiple measures are needed but we have to start somewhere.”

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/8fc73b48-99c0-4ad0-90dc-fd67721aa8ba

Declared interests

Prof. Naveed Sattar declares that he has no relevant interests.