Child obesity: government considers new direct interventions

The government may implement further direct interventions to tackle childhood obesity along the lines of the sugar levy on soft drinks, a parliamentary committee has heard.

At an evidence session of the parliamentary health and social care committee’s inquiry into childhood obesity held on 22 May, ministers and officials hinted that stronger steps may be taken.

The committee’s inquiry precedes the expected launch of the next chapter of the government’s Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action,1 due later this year.

During the session, MPs on the committee focused on the newly published findings of a report from Public Health England (PHE),2 which showed that retailers and manufacturers had reduced sugar in foodstuffs …