by Nutrilicious | Jul 14, 2025 | Hot Topics in nutrition, Education
By Marta Buczkowska, Registered Dietitian
As the long-awaited NHS Plan is released, we took a moment – just ahead of publication – to ask ChatGPT for its predictions on what might be included. Some of those predictions made it into the final version, but others, disappointingly, did not. This comparison has helped highlight both the progress being made and the opportunities still to be seized.
In this blog, we unpack where the new NHS Plan gets it right, where it falls short, and what more is needed to truly move from treatment to prevention. Our analysis explores the latest commitments, what’s changing in policy and practice, and the crucial gaps that remain if we are to build a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future
What’s next for the NHS? Moving from treatment to prevention – and where we go from here
The newly unveiled NHS Plan brings with it an increased focus on disease prevention and improving access to healthcare through shifting from analogue to digital and from hospital-based care to community centres. These changes reflect a growing recognition that reactive, hospital-centred treatment alone is no longer sustainable – we must address the root causes of ill health and make healthcare widely available to all.
While we welcome several positive steps outlined in the Plan, there remain key gaps that must be urgently addressed to create a truly equitable, sustainable and healthy society.
What’s continuing: positive momentum in policy
We’re encouraged by the government’s commitment to go ahead with restricting unhealthy food advertising to children. This move acknowledges the powerful role of familiarity in shaping dietary preferences from a young age. It’s one step in the right direction, but we urge policymakers to go further — extending advertising bans not only to public transport – like it’s already done in several areas of England which would further amplify the benefits, but to a blanket ban on advertising all HFSS foods like Norway. Similarly, updating the sugar tax to reflect inflation and extending it to all HFSS foods is a practical, evidence-based move that can further drive the decline in HFSS foods and beverages consumption.
What’s new – and what’s working
We welcome the broader recognition of the role of diet in preventing non-communicable diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes. Nutrition and lifestyle interventions must be at the centre of our prevention strategy, not an afterthought.
We applaud the introduction of mandatory healthy food sales reporting across major food businesses. Supermarkets account for 95% of grocery sales and more than 80% of calories consumed in the UK. It’s time we ensured those calories come from healthy nutritious foods. This data should be used not only for transparency but also to set bold national targets for healthier food sales as recommended by the Eating Better Alliance. We hope to see the reported data used in developing ambitious targets and policies for healthy food sales, and we will closely monitor the next steps following the standard’s implementation.
Another promising development is the proposal for an incentives-based system to encourage healthy eating and physical activity. While gift vouchers and other incentives can be an effective tool in shaping food choices, we hope to see this initiative accompanied by systemic changes to the food environment. These should include improving the availability and affordability of whole, plant-rich foods, and modifying the default food options in public and commercial settings.
We are also encouraged by plans to expand access to weight-loss medications through the NHS, particularly when their use is linked to measurable health outcomes. However, to create lasting change, we believe this must be accompanied by strong policies that prioritise whole, plant-rich diets and transform the wider food environment.
The Plan’s inclusion of new alcohol labelling standards and the emphasis on the no- and low-alcohol markets is another step forward. Yet, we believe stronger measures are needed. Restricting alcohol advertising and controlling sale hours could more effectively reduce harmful consumption and protect public health.
The introduction of neighbourhood health centres offers an exciting opportunity to decentralise care and bring support closer to communities. We hope to see registered dietitians and nutrition professionals and credible evidence-based programmes embedded within these centres to lead lifestyle-based disease prevention strategies.
What’s missing – and where we need to push further
Despite overwhelming scientific consensus on the benefits of plant-rich diets — for health, the environment, and the economy — a meaningful strategy aimed to promote healthy sustainable diets did not find a place in the new NHS Plan. Research shows that shifting towards the EAT-Lancet Planetary Diet can significantly reduce mortality, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, making it a cost-effective preventative tool. Beyond improved health outcomes, adopting whole food, plant-rich dietary patterns could also ease the burden on healthcare workers by reducing the prevalence and severity of diet-related chronic conditions. Public institutions leading the way with plant-forward menus could also bring enormous financial savings to the NHS – up to £55 million annually. We urge policymakers to recognise the potential of healthy sustainable plant-rich diets and embed them as a central pillar in future public health strategies.
Another major omission is the lack of regulation in the baby and toddler food sector. Many commercial products in this space fail to meet basic nutritional standards, despite being marketed to the UK’s most vulnerable consumers. Stronger standards and transparency are urgently needed to protect child health.
Finally, true prevention must include support for food access and mental health. Many communities still live in food deserts with limited access to nutritious meals, and socio-economic inequality remains a major barrier to health equity. Digitalisation, genomics or AI utilisation will not bring meaningful changes to communities without access to basic rights – including healthy food, clean air or healthcare access, and these must be addressed if the NHS is serious about preventing disease and building a healthier nation.
At Nutrilicious, we welcome the growing shift towards creating healthier food environments and prioritising lifestyle-based interventions. We’re proud to bring together excellence in nutrition expertise, strategic insights, and effective communications to help businesses thrive. As leading specialists in nutrition, sustainability, and marketing consultancy, we empower businesses to:
- Understand the landscape through forecasts, quantitative and qualitative research, round tables and stakeholders mapping
- Engage the influencers of your target market through strategy creation, creative development, engagement across integrated marketing channels or post-activation measurement
- Create and deliver strategies and content across integrated marketing channels to engage needs-based customers
- Develop nutrition and health marketing strategies
- Communicate with audiences and stakeholders to bring awareness to the brand, business vision, mission and company values
- If you need help to grow and communicate your nutrition and health credentials lets have a chat: tanya@nutrilicious.co.uk.
Final thoughts
If we are serious about preventing disease, we must transform our food systems, reshape our environments, and empower professionals on the frontlines of public health. The NHS Plan is one step forward – but only a bold, united push forward will change the future of health in the UK.
by Nutrilicious | Sep 25, 2024 | Hot Topics in nutrition, Thoughts, Education, Communications, Event Reports
Food is on the agenda at a number of events at this year’s labour party conference. Here is one of them.
We took part in an event hosted by PLMR in association with the The Vegan Society – Let Food Be Thy Medicine. Tanya Haffner, our CEO and founder, felt honoured to share the stage with Anna Taylor, Executive Director, The Food Foundation, Claire Ogley, Head of Campaigns, Policy and Research, The Vegan Society, Dr Simon Opher, MP, Simon Darby, Head of Public Affairs, PLMR and Jim Bligh, Director of Corporate Affairs and Packaging, Food and Drink Federation.
So why should and how can the government take advantage of the opportunity presented by diet change to deliver a preventative health revolution? Here are some of the highlights:
Why address the issue of diet change?
- Health: Our nation is suffering and dying from preventable diseases where unhealthy diets post a greater risk to morbidity (years living with disability) and mortality than unsafe sex, alcohol, drug and tobacco use combined. The least deprived are the most disadvantaged.
- Planet: At the same time the way we are eating is contributing to climate and ecological breakdown. Food is a major contributor and it is hardly recognised. It contributes to 1/3 of GHG emissions and is damaging all other planetary boundaries. The very systems we are using to nourish us are being damaged by our food system and as a consequence so too is our food security.
- Economics: we have a sick workforce. 2.8 million people are economically inactive because of long term sickness: it’s not sustainable. Recommendations by Henry Dimbleby in the National Food Strategy proposed 2021 focused on 4 dietary shifts towards a more plant based diet ( 30% increase in Fruit and Veg, 50% increase in fibre, 25% reduction in HFSS foods, 30% reduction in meat). When modelled against the Global Burden of Disease data if achieved these would see a 10% reduction in deaths and Years Living with Disability related to dietary risk factors. Yet, successive governments have overlooked the transformative potential of promoting a shift towards healthier plant-based diets in favour of encouraging “personal responsibility” when it comes to diet.
What has the Vegan Society’s recent research shown about the scale of the possible opportunity by plant-based diets?
- The vegan society’s recent research in partnership with the Office for Health Economics has for the first time put a figure on this opportunity cost and estimated that for every million people who take up a plant-based diet in England, this could unlock savings of £121 million for spending in our NHS from reduced spending on preventable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The scale of the opportunity is enormous. Link to the research is here
But are the benefits of healthy diets better understood than previously by health professionals?
- Treatment focused care is excellent. But there are lost opportunities for identifying early development of disease and modifiable risk factors such as diet which could unburden the NHS disease care system.
- Dietitians and nutritionists – plant-based sustainable diets knowledge and application is poor – training has only recently been added to pre-registration training. Yet, post registration dietitians are being called upon to help deliver on net zero targets are on catch up with knowledge confidence and application. MyNutriWeb training and tools supported by the British Dietetic Association and Association for Nutrition are helping to plug this gap. But dietitians and nutritionists often lack funding and time for training.
- Doctors, nurses and other health professionals receive little training – doctors as little as 1 hr in medical schools and lack knowledge confidence and useful trusted tools to support recommend and sign post in first line treatment. A huge opportunity to catalyse change is being lost.
- A joined up strategy to create a nourished healthcare culture that can help unburden the disease care system is needed which can include:
- More social prescribing.
- More dietitians.
- An NHS prescribed personalised prevention opportunities linked into the NHS app using digital tech may help to revolutionise this kind of preventative care.
- Plant-based by default strategies and campaigns such as those in New York City hospitals now being piloted in the UK can also contribute. A plant-based by default menu in healthcare is now being called upon by leading health professionals and organisations which outs plants first but doesn’t take away choice.
- Nutrition societies and health professionals are working with and being influenced by the food industry – but higher standards are needed to align with healthy and sustainable diets and to avoid green and health washing seen in recent years.
What has industry been doing to drive health improvements and how can they further work with government?
- Industry has focused and invested heavily in product reformulation and better labelling and will continue to do so.
- A number of players are undertaking public reporting of healthy and unhealthy sales.
- But industry needs more policy levers to create a level playing field for further change.
What policy changes will be needed by government, the health services, industry and individuals?
Many of the calls to action in the Food Foundations Election 24 Nourishing the Nation Manifesto were highlighted
- Making healthy and sustainable food affordable
- Stopping the junk food escalation
- Investing in children diets
- Making it easier to eat sustainably
- Creating a food bill for England
- Improving transparency by introducing mandatory public reporting by the food business
- Investing in and supporting innovation and R&D across the food and agriculture sector
Improving transparency by introducing mandatory public reporting of advertising was also highlighted when a 1/3 of advertising spend on food and drink goes towards confectionary, snacks, desserts and soft drinks compared to just 1% on fruit and vegetables.
Why are policy makers reluctant to talk about diet, especially plant-based diets?
- Subsidies that facilitate the production of cheap meat are not helping
- Farmers are trapped in a system that drives this and need more support to deliver on food provision centered around horticulture
- People need to be reassured and supported to transition and learn how to afford, access and go plant based
Embracing policy and funding action on diet change including the support for the NHS to be a champion of health, especially towards plant-based diets, is crucial for improving the nation’s health, protecting the planet, and strengthening the economy. What are your thoughts on the role of plant-based diets in creating a healthier future? Let us know in the comments below!
by Suellen Morris | Apr 27, 2023 | Hot Topics in nutrition, Thoughts, The Nation’s Health, Education
This month, we are pleased to see the publication of a paper that Nutrilicious were commissioned to create. While our nutrition and science team at Nutrilicious strongly believes that we must now update the Eatwell Guide we also believe that more focus must be given to communications of the Eatwell Guide. The new rapid review explores communications around food based dietary guidelines (FBDG), including the Eatwell Guide. The paper has been published in the journal ‘sustainability’ , authored by Amy E Culliford, Jane Bradbury and Elphee B. Medici. As a nutrition and sustainable diets communications consultant at Nutrilicious, Elphee was part of the core research team for this project.
Improving Communication of the UK Sustainable Healthy Dietary Guidelines the Eatwell Guide: A Rapid Review
Background
In the UK, FBDG are reflected by the Eatwell Guide, developed by Public Health England (PHE), last updated in 2016. The Eatwell Guide replaced the Eatwell Plate and continues to define the government’s advice on a healthy balanced diet. The visual guide provides a representation of healthy eating by splitting the food we eat into five food groups and shows how much an individual should eat from each group. The supporting guides that can be found on the government’s website include A colour Eatwell Guide PDF, Government dietary recommendations, The Eatwell Guide Booklet and A quick guide to the government’s healthy eating recommendations
Currently, only 0.1% of the UK population are meeting all nine recommendations provided by the Eatwell Guide. Improving adherence is of upmost importance not only to improving health and reducing rates of non-communicable disease in the UK but also to supporting a reduction in the environmental impact of what we are eating, to help meet the UK’s targets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) by 68% by 2023, compared to 1990 levels.
The Findings
Key themes were pulled out as part of the review as being significant in effective communication of FBDG. The following five recommendations were made, with the aim of helping to improve adherence to the Eatwell Guide:
(1) Review of language and tone of nutrition and sustainability related messages
Short, simple, specific and easy to understand communications should be utilised, using an empathetic and empowering tone. Specific messages relating to sustainable diets should be recommended and incorporated into guidelines offering benefits for the people and the planet.
(2) Targeting of FBDG and communications to specific population segments
Communication needs to be tailored and appeal to different population groups including age, gender, cultural background and motivation style. Further research is warranted to explore factors which influence food choices within specific target population segments.
(3) Addressing barriers to and benefits of adopting the Eatwell Guide recommendations
Barriers need to be addressed to guide in effective communications. Barriers identified included taste preferences, cost, time and habits.
(4) Development of practical tools and resources to support implementation of the guidelines
Compared to other countries’ FBDG communication strategies, the UK is currently lacking in producing supporting resources to assist in the implementation of the Eatwell Guide. For example, portion size guidance for various population groups, healthier and tasty substitutions for unhealthy and/or unsustainable foods would be beneficial and also recipes and practical approaches to meeting FBDG.
(5) Leveraging social media and social marketing techniques to increase public engagement
Social media and the internet are a key target area to communicate to individuals. The digital space should be utilised to form a key part of the Eatwell Guide communication strategy, alongside traditional media.
As can be seen, multiple elements need to be considered when communicating the Eatwell Guide to the public, health professionals and other stakeholders.
Moving On
The review provides such valuable lessons into the effective use of FBDG, including what has been working well globally. Research findings from this new rapid review can help to drive better and more effective communication strategies in order to promote sustainable healthy eating guidelines. Policy makers, the food industry and health professionals should use this to drive dietary behaviour change. The authors conclude that further research is needed in this area, with a particular focus on ‘research into the motivations, perceived barriers and preferred communication style for target population groups and a more detailed analysis of social marketing and industry strategies which could be adapted to promote sustainable healthy diets.’
“Healthy eating guidance including the Eatwell Guide need to be brought to life through a strategic and creative marketing strategy designed to resonate with different population groups and on a level similar to how food marketing is successfully done. Government needs to go beyond current guidelines and campaigns and embed this into an always-on public health strategy to make this happen. Those involved in such a strategy would benefit from the learnings in this paper” – Tanya Haffner, Registered Dietitian, CEO Nutrilicious
by Nutrilicious | Sep 20, 2019 | Thoughts, The Nation’s Health, Education
When it comes to food choices, what should we be advising those suffering from type 2 diabetes to help them manage weight and glucose?
Do we focus on a low carb diet?
Cutting out fat?
Or just the simple principle of sticking to Eatwell guidelines?
Media headlines continue to offer 101 different – conflicting – solutions. So what’s the truth? How can we piece together this apparent mess to best support those with diabetes?
Next week, in the second in our series of diabetes NutriWebinars, expert Dr Duane Mellor, RD, Senior Teaching Fellow at Aston Medical School, Aston University will be exploring these topics.
Looking at how advice has shifted over the past few decades, he’ll be talking through the latest evidence and explaining what health professionals can do to actually help people living with type 2 diabetes.
The webinar will also cover evidence from the last couple of years that shows that type 2 diabetes is not necessarily always a condition for life: through weight loss and maintenance, we can actually help people go into remission.
Fundamentally, it’s about putting the person with the condition at the centre – rather than trying to force them into eating habits that don’t suit their lifestyle, culture or preferences. Instead of concentrating on specific nutrients at specific times of the day – ‘you must have starchy carbs at breakfast’ – it’s working out what works for them, at the same time as creating an overall balanced diet.
Inviting questions and ideas from participants, the NutriWebinar is set to be an interesting, informative and empowering evening. (Plus, it’s free and counts as CPD.) We hope you’ll join us and encourage colleagues to join in too: register now
by Tanya HAFFNER | Dec 7, 2018 | The Nation’s Health, Surveys and insights, Education
As Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said more than 2,000 years ago, ‘All disease begins in the gut’. And modern science is proving it as true today as it was then.
In this blog we outline the importance of gut microbiota and the use of diet to affect them to try to improve health and welfare.
For a detailed exploration of the topic, register for our free, CPD-accredited NutriWebinar. Led by experts Professor Glenn Gibson and Laura Tilt, it will give you both incredible insight into the science and practical tips on how to help balance gut microbiota for real health benefits.
The importance of the gut microbiome
We have more than 1,000 species of bacteria in our gut. And there’s been an increasing realisation among scientists that these can have a profound effect on our health – from Irritable Bowel Syndrome to infections, asthma and inflammatory disease right through to bone health and cognitive function.
This understanding has led researchers to investigate what we can do to affect the microbiota, to be applied to this wide range of health problems. A steady stream of scientific publications over the last 15 years address the topic, alongside research into probiotics and, more recently, prebiotics – which selectively fertilise the ‘good’ bacteria.
Our gut microbiome status changes throughout our lives. We acquire our gut bacteria mostly at birth. Moving through the milk years, there are differences in acquiring bacteria between breast-fed and infant formulae fed babies: human milk.
There is change again at the weaning stage, after which the gut microbiota remains fairly stable. As we get older there is then a decrease in the largely in beneficial bacteria like the bifidobacteria.
The gut microbiota can be susceptible to various challenges: stress, infection, antibiotics and poor diet all amongst the factor coming into play on a daily basis.
How does diet affect our gut microbiome and our health?
Carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and lipids are all metabolised by microbiomes in different ways, with different outcomes for our health.
Carbohydrate metabolism – especially that of fibre – leads to organic acids, short chain fatty acids, that have shown to be beneficial in the gut. For example:
- Acetate is metabolised by the muscle, kidney, heart and brain
- Propionate, cleared by the liver, is an appetite regulator also said to be involved in cholesterol synthesis
- Butyrate is a fuel and regulates cell growth
Fibre itself can stimulate the growth of good bacteria. It’s been estimated that per 100g fibre fermented, 30g of bacteria is produced.
Metabolism of excess protein, on the other hand, leads to less positive end products:
- Ammonia induces quick cell turnover
- Phenols/indoles may act as co-carcinogens
- Amines are linked to migraine, cancer, schizophrenia
Balancing our gut microbiota
- Increased fibre intake
To help ensure balanced gut microbiota, our diet needs to include enough fibre. As discussed in our recent blog, government recommendations advise 30g per day for adults, representing a 60% increase in intake for most. Laura Tilt provides excellent advice on how this can be achieved in the NutriWebinar.
- Probiotic and prebiotics
Much work has been done into probiotic supplements: live ‘good’ bacteria that bring health benefits, especially lactobacilli and bifido bacteria.
More recently, scientists have found that prebiotics could have an even more profound effect on our health. They work by selectively proliferating beneficial bacteria, which in turn inhibit pathogens. They may also have a more general effect, including dampening inflammatory issues.
Prebiotics are found naturally in human breast milk and in fructans and inulins in vegetables including asparagus, onion, banana and leeks. They can also be taken as supplements, especially in GOS forms.
Takeaway message
As our understanding of the link between gut microbiota and our health has grown, researchers have increasingly looked to see where we can have the most impact.
We’re in a position where health and nutrition professionals can advise clients on what they can do to improve their gut health and therefore overall wellbeing. We look forward to our research widening and deepening further to improve our understanding in this vital area.
Get involved in the discussion on social media: @Nutrilicious @NutriWebinar #lifelonglearning #feedingthegut
by Tanya HAFFNER | Sep 12, 2018 | Hot Topics in nutrition, The Nation’s Health, Education, Changing mindset
The government recently announced new measures to halve rates of childhood obesity by 2030 and significantly reduce the health inequalities that persist – closing the gap in obesity rates between children from the most and least deprived areas.
This proposal builds upon the first chapter of the Childhood Obesity Plan, which was widely criticised at the time as lacking the breadth and depth of initiatives needed to effectively tackle such a widespread and entrenched issue.
Steve Brine, Public Health Minister has stated: “One in three children are now overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school. Overconsumption, combined with reduced activity, is having a catastrophic effect on our children’s health. As both a parent and minister, I am committed to driving today’s pledge of halving obesity over the next 12 years with bold new action.”
“Our updated plan will put parents in charge, providing more information and support. Our aim is to help families make healthier choices, which will in turn provide a better chance at a longer, healthier life for our children.”
Obesity – A systems issue
The financial burden of obesity is too great to ignore: it’s estimated that the NHS in England spent £6.1 billion on overweight and obesity-related ill-health in 2017/18, which, to put into context is more than was spent on the police, fire service and judicial system combined. The wider costs to society of these conditions are around £27 billion a year, if not higher.
Ever since the Foresight report was published over a decade ago, it has been recognised that obesity is a systems issue and one that therefore requires reform at many points, to deliver change. This idea and the fact that no plan to date has sought to address childhood obesity in a multi-sector way, was reiterated in the recent inquiry by the parliamentary Health and Social Care Committee into childhood obesity. Childhood Obesity: Time for Action argued for a change in narrative, making clear that obesity is everyone’s business and “an effective childhood obesity plan demands a holistic, joined-up, ‘whole systems’ approach with clear and effective leadership”.
How does the Childhood Obesity Strategy measure up?
This update to the Childhood Obesity Strategy is a welcome step forward. It contains a raft of proposed measures that seek to tackle the issue using a co-ordinated range of policy levers. What is also good to see is that this new plan takes a firm but fair approach in how it will deliver change: using voluntary measures in the first instance but being clear that a harder tact with the likes of regulatory and fiscal measures will be considered where progress is deemed insufficient, or where a level playing field is required.
Here at Nutrilicious, we’ve taken a closer look at what’s in store and benchmarked the new childhood obesity plan against the World Cancer Research Fund’s NOURISHING framework, as well as the recommendations from the Health and Social Care Committee’s report mentioned earlier.
The NOURISHING framework
The NOURISHING Framework sets out that policies are needed within three core areas to improve diets: the food environment, food system and behaviour change communication.
N – Nutrition label standards and regulations on the use of claims and implied claims on food
O – Offer healthy food and set standards in public institutions and other specific settings
U – Use economic tools to address food affordability and purchase incentives
R – Restrict food advertising and other forms of commercial promotion
I – Improve nutritional quality of the whole food supply
S – Set incentives and rules to create a healthy retail and food service environment
H – Harness food supply chain and actions across sectors to ensure coherence with health
I – Inform people about food and nutrition through public awareness
N – Nutrition advice and counselling in health care settings
G – Give nutrition education and skills
Bearing in mind that some policies and actions targeting childhood obesity were in place prior to this strategy update, overlaying the new measures show how broad their impact alone intends to be:
| New measures |
N |
O |
U |
R |
I |
S |
H |
I |
N |
G |
Nutrilicious notes |
| Improved food labelling to display ‘world-leading, simple nutritional information’ as well as information on origin and welfare standards following Brexit |
X |
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| Strengthen School Food Standards to reduce sugar consumption |
|
X |
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X |
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We would like to see these universally applied and close the loophole that exists for some academies |
| Strengthen Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services* |
|
X |
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X |
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| Ban price promotions such as buy one get one free, multibuys or unlimited refills of unhealthy foods and drinks in the retail and out of home sector* |
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X |
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It is good to see a mandatory approach applied here, as this is what is undoubtedly needed when policies will impact businesses’ bottom line. |
| Ban the sale of energy drinks to children* |
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X |
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| Ban promotion of unhealthy food and drink by location e.g. positioning – checkouts, end of aisles and store entrances, in retail and out of home sector* |
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X |
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| Introduce a 9pm watershed on unhealthy food and drink advertising and similar protection online* |
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X |
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We would like to see similar controls applied to sports advertising |
| Review governance arrangements for advertising rules (currently overseen by the Committee of Advertising Practice and Advertising Standards Authority) |
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X |
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| Potentially bring ‘sugary milk drinks’ into the soft drinks levy if insufficient action on sugar reduction takes place |
|
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X |
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X |
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| Introduce mandatory calorie labelling for out of home sector in England* |
X |
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X |
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| Sugar reduction plan for products aimed exclusively at babies and young children due in 2019* |
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X |
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| Calorie reduction plan due mid-2019* |
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X |
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| Develop trailblazer programme with local authority partners to highlight what can be done within existing powers |
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X |
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We would like to see greater powers for local authorities and health services |
| Develop plan to use Healthy Start vouchers to provide additional support to children from lower income families* |
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X |
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| Ofsted will review school curriculum to understand how it can better support healthy behaviours, including food choices |
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X |
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X |
We would like to see improved early years education for parents to support a healthy first 1000 days and compulsory home economics with healthy cooking skills at the core in both primary and secondary schools |
*Proposal for further consultation
Is it enough?
While we applaud this latest round of the childhood obesity plan, we would also draw attention to the fact that there is still some way to go.
By mapping the proposed policy options against the NOURISHING framework, we can see that in this latest iteration of the plan much more focus has been given to shaping an environment that enables and supports healthier choices, which is great to see.
However, what is noticeably absent is the ‘I’ in terms of improving food and health literacy of the population. In a ‘post truth’ world where consumers are increasingly sceptical of messages coming from the scientific community, and when social media influencers are capturing the hearts and minds of the masses with questionable dietary advice, never has it been more important to provide clear, simple and authoritative information and advice. As such, we’d like to the see the government step-up their efforts on social marketing and educational campaigns.
What is more, a number of recommendations made in the Health and Social Care Committee are notably absent, including:
- Establishing a Cabinet-level committee to review the implementation of the plan, ensuring it gets the high-level traction it requires
- Proposing further measures around early years and the first 1,000 days of life, including targets to improve rates of breastfeeding
- Banning the advertising and promotion of follow-on formula milk
- Providing local authorities with further powers to limit unhealthy food and drink advertising near schools (the only powers available to local authorities extend to the positioning of the billboards themselves, not the content of the advertising)
- Introducing services for children living with obesity
Finally, while this plan is overtly focussed on limiting unhealthy foods and drinks and making processed, packaged foods a little better through reformulation (lower in salt etc), we would also like to see equal attention given to measures that work improve the quantity and quality of foods that we do want people to eat more of. Changing the dietary landscape will require strong efforts to provide families with the tools and knowledge to instil these healthier behaviours in a sustainable way.
The full plan for action can be viewed here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action
