24 July 2020
Our President Professor Russell Viner responds to reports that the government will introduce a comprehensive obesity plan.
Professor Russell Viner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said:
We strongly welcome reports that the government will introduce a 9pm watershed for junk food advertising. We have epidemic levels of obesity in the UK and we are storing up huge problems for children and young people unless we turn things around. Nearly one in four children are overweight by age five. This is a public health timebomb and it is right that the food industry is being held to account. We have a window of opportunity to make a huge difference to our children’s health with brave, evidence-based policy. We strongly encourage the government to hold its nerve and we look forward to reviewing the detail next week.