Moore and Evans have emphasised the need to address socioeconomic inequalities to support the success of the government’s new obesity strategy, introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.1 The strategy describes policies such as the limiting of unhealthy food advertising and the introduction of calorie labels on foods sold in restaurants, cafes and takeaways.2 The strategy is a welcomed effort to address obesity in the UK, however the policy proposals do not recognise important factors underlying people’s dietary choices.
Efforts to solve the underlying socioeconomic inequalities which dictate dietary and health choices are paramount to addressing obesity. The UK government’s strategy is too reliant on the belief that all people in the UK possess the individual agency to make dietary choices and does not recognise the systemic issues contributing to obesity. Phenomena such as ‘food deserts’ are an important example of systemic failures leading to poor health outcomes.3 In the UK, 1.2 million people live in areas in which poverty, insufficient public transport, and a lack of large supermarkets limits their access to fresh fruit and vegetables.3 No amount of restriction upon unhealthy food advertising will provide those in ‘food deserts’ with the access to healthy food options.
Therefore, efforts to improve access to healthy foods are arguably more important than policy which limits unhealthy dietary behaviours. Overall, the UK government’s obesity strategy is focussed upon preventative measures and neglects systematic factors which can only be addressed through social and economic equity.
Rapid Response:
Re: Obese and hungry: two faces of a nation
Dear Editor
Moore and Evans have emphasised the need to address socioeconomic inequalities to support the success of the government’s new obesity strategy, introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.1 The strategy describes policies such as the limiting of unhealthy food advertising and the introduction of calorie labels on foods sold in restaurants, cafes and takeaways.2 The strategy is a welcomed effort to address obesity in the UK, however the policy proposals do not recognise important factors underlying people’s dietary choices.
Efforts to solve the underlying socioeconomic inequalities which dictate dietary and health choices are paramount to addressing obesity. The UK government’s strategy is too reliant on the belief that all people in the UK possess the individual agency to make dietary choices and does not recognise the systemic issues contributing to obesity. Phenomena such as ‘food deserts’ are an important example of systemic failures leading to poor health outcomes.3 In the UK, 1.2 million people live in areas in which poverty, insufficient public transport, and a lack of large supermarkets limits their access to fresh fruit and vegetables.3 No amount of restriction upon unhealthy food advertising will provide those in ‘food deserts’ with the access to healthy food options.
Therefore, efforts to improve access to healthy foods are arguably more important than policy which limits unhealthy dietary behaviours. Overall, the UK government’s obesity strategy is focussed upon preventative measures and neglects systematic factors which can only be addressed through social and economic equity.
References
1 Moore JB, Evans C EL. Obese and hungry: two faces of a nation. BMJ 2020;370:m3084. doi:10.1136/bmj.m3084
2 Department of Health and Social Care. Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives. 27 Jul 2020. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-obesity-government-s...
3 What are the barriers to eating healthily in the UK? Social Market Foundation. 8 Aug 2020. https://www.smf.co.uk/publications/barriers-eating-healthily-uk/
Competing interests: No competing interests