Poor families should be paid a £3 a day grant tied to the purchase of healthy food, a report today says, warning that failing to tackle childhood obesity will cost the NHS £66 billion over the coming decades.
The aim should be to get children’s weights back to 1980s levels and double the effectiveness of existing plans, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research.
It says the existing UK strategy could save the NHS £37 billion in a generation – but its proposals could increase this to £66 billion.
There would be further savings across the economy and society of £202 billion by reducing chronic illness, the report says.
Its healthy food subsidy would be paid for by new taxes on non-essential foods, its report says.
The report was welcomed by several charities.
Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “The last few months have truly shone a light on the devastating impact obesity can have on our health. Yet, as this report highlights, our children’s wellbeing is suffering and recent government announcements, while welcomed, must go further if we’re to change this.
“Obesity accounts for up to 85% of the risk of Type 2 diabetes – a serious condition with life threatening complications, that is more severe the younger you develop it.
“We believe the UK has the opportunity to make another ‘giant leap’ forward, but it is integral that we shift to a preventative approach across society, and not put the blame and responsibility on the individual. The government must be ambitious and bring together all parties, only then we can begin to shape a society where our children’s health is put first.”
Jacob West, from the British Heart Foundation, said the report was “timely and insightful.”
He said: “It serves as a warning that the toll on our health and economy could be immense in the years to come if we fail to adequately address this major public health crisis today.
“Sadly, children with obesity are more likely to become adults with obesity, who are then at increased risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases. More must be done to break this chain of ill health. To do this will require collective action across government, society and the economy – there’s no magic bullet when it comes to reducing obesity rates. Exercise and willpower alone are not enough – children must also grow up in the healthiest possible environment.
http://www.ippr.org/research/publications/the-whole-society-approach
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