World Health Organisation backs sugar and junk food tax 
In a new report The World Health Organisation says that childhood obesity has become an 'exploding nightmare’. WHO has joined those calling for a sugar tax on soft drinks alongside a crackdown on the marketing of junk food. It says there is strong evidence a sugar tax can work alongside other measures, such as reducing portion sizes and introducing clearer food labelling. The report adds that countries where rates are very high – including the UK – should go further by taxing all junk food. The report’s authors also state that childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in the developing world.

The World Health Organisation says childhood obesity has become an 'exploding nightmare' in a major report out today.

The WHO has joined those calling for a sugar tax on soft drinks alongside a crackdown on the marketing of junk food, to tackle the global scourge.

It says there is strong evidence a sugar tax can work alongside other measures, such as reducing big portion sizes and introducing clearer food labelling.

But countries where rates are very high – including the UK – should go further by taxing all junk food, it added.

Its authors state the epidemic is also increasing at an alarming rate in the developing world.

In Africa, the number of children who are overweight or obese has nearly doubled since 1990, increasing from 5.4 million to 10.3 million.

The World Health Organisation gave its backing to the campaign to introduce a 'sugar tax' saying there is 'sufficient rationale' to warrant its introduction

Biological factors, inadequate access to healthy foods, a decline in physical activity in schools and the unregulated marketing of fattening foods are among the drivers of a worsening epidemic that requires a coordinated global response, it said.

The report, by WHO's Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity, calls for governments across the world to take nine urgent actions to reduce childhood obesity.

Following two years of research in more than 100 countries, the authors underscored that governments and global health organisations were central to reversing the unwelcome trend.

Members of the Commission said it was no longer sufficient to rely on 'simple codes' for food labelling such as the traffic lights system popular in the UK.

They called for tighter regulations around the marketing of food and drinks to children ' to reduce the exposure of children and adolescents to, and the power of, the marketing of unhealthy foods'.

RISE OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN DEVELOPING NATIONS The report said childhood obesity 'is an exploding nightmare in the developing world.' The figures have surged in Africa, with the number of overweight or obese children under five nearly doubling from 1990 to 2014, from 5.4 million to 10.3 million. The rate of increase in Asia was difficult to quantify, the report said, but Asia currently accounts for nearly half (48 percent) of young children categorised as overweight or obese. The report notes that in wealthier countries, poorer children are more likely to be obese, partly due to the relative affordability and abundance of fatty fast foods and high-sugar snacks. Conversely, in poorer countries the children of wealthier families are more likely to be obese, including in cultures where 'an overweight child is often considered to be healthy.'

Writing specifically about sugar tax, the report said: 'Overall, the rationale for taxation measures to influence purchasing behaviours is strong and supported by the available evidence.

'The Commission believes there is sufficient rationale to warrant the introduction of an effective tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

'It is well established that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with an increased risk of obesity.'

The report said those on low incomes and their children 'have the greatest risk of obesity in many societies and are most influenced by price'.

It added: 'Fiscal policies may encourage this group of consumers to make healthier choices (provided healthier alternatives are made available) as well as providing an indirect educational and public health signal to the whole population.'

Public Health England (PHE) also backs the possibility of a sugar tax of up to 20 per cent.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said he does not see the need for a sugar tax, although his position is believed to have shifted recently.

A PHE report released in November said the levy would tackle the obesity crisis by curbing demand for unhealthy food and drinks.

The study was originally shelved by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, but a row between the Government, PHE and MPs on the Commons health committee led to claims it was suppressed.

The report by WHO recommends unhealthy food and drink (right) should be banned from schools to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity

In its new report, WHO set out a range of measures to tackle childhood obesity.

'Processed, energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, in increasing portion size, at affordable prices have replaced minimally-processed fresh foods and water in many settings at school and family meals,' it said.

'The easy access to energy-dense foods and sugar-sweetened beverages and the tacit encouragement to 'size-up' through commercial promotions have contributed to the rising caloric intake in many populations.'

It is well established that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with an increased risk of obesity World Health Organisation

The report also dismissed efforts by industry, saying: 'Despite the increasing number of voluntary efforts by industry, exposure to the marketing of unhealthy foods remains a major issue demanding change that will protect all children equally.

'Any attempt to tackle childhood obesity should, therefore, include a reduction in exposure of children to, and the power of, marketing.'

Furthermore, the Commission said parents should be given advice on exercise, healthy body sizes and ' appropriate use of screen-based entertainment'.

Meanwhile, schools should ban the 'provision or sale of unhealthy foods, such as sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, in the school environment'.

The report added: 'Childhood obesity is reaching alarming proportions in many countries and poses an urgent and serious challenge.

'Children with obesity are very likely to remain obese as adults and are at risk of chronic illness.

'Progress in tackling childhood obesity has been slow and inconsistent.'

The two-year study by WHO looked at childhood obesity in 100 countries across the world and found its prevalence has increased drastically in parts of Africa, where it has reached 20 per cent in some countries

Current estimates of UK sugar intake among school-age children are that 14.7 per cent of all calorie intake is made up of sugar.

The main sources of sugar include soft drinks, table sugar, confectionery, fruit juice, biscuits, buns, cakes, pastries and puddings and breakfast cereals.

Soft drinks (excluding fruit juice) are the largest single source of sugar for children aged 11 to 18. They provide 29 per cent of daily sugar intake, on average, for this age group.

CHILDREN 'EAT MORE IF THEY WATCH TV ADS FOR JUNK FOOD' Children will eat more if they are bombarded with TV commercials for junk food, according to a study by British academics. Experts found behaviour and eating habits changed after being exposed to adverts on TV and through the internet. The findings by a team at the University of Liverpool will fuel demands for a ban on advertising all food and drink high in fat, sugar and salt before the 9pm watershed. The researchers carried out a review of 22 studies around the world which exposed children and or adults to unhealthy food advertising on the television or Internet. The analysis showed that unhealthy food advertising exposure significantly increased food consumption in children, but not adults. Tim Rycroft, of the Food and Drink Federation, said: ‘We have one of the strictest advertising regulatory regimes in the world concerning how foods and drinks can be advertised. Many companies go even further, developing their own responsible marketing guidelines and making voluntary commitments. ‘We don’t believe that a 9pm watershed would have any effect on obesity.’

A third of 10 to 11-year-olds and over a fifth of four to five-year-olds in England are overweight or obese.

This compares to just 15 per cent in France, 16 per cent in the Netherlands and 18 per cent in Poland.

Jennifer Rosborough, campaign manager and nutritionist at the charity Action on Sugar said the findings should be a 'stark reminder' to the UK Government.

'The findings of the report must be a stark reminder to the UK Government to act now and include immediate measures such as preventing all types of marketing of junk food to children and adolescents, stopping promotions and setting a 20 per cent sugary drinks tax as part of their long awaited childhood obesity strategy.'

The Department of Health is due to announce its new obesity strategy next month which is expected to take a far tougher approach.

A spokesperson from the Department said: 'Our childhood obesity strategy will look at everything, including sugar, that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese.

'It will also set out what more can be done by all sides.'

Dr Kate Allen, Executive Director of Science and Public Affairs at World Cancer Research Fund, said

'The World Health Organization's report highlights just how important an integrated approach is to reducing child obesity and that it must be tackled at every stage of life.

'Being overweight or obese as an adult increases the risk of 10 different cancers and so it is imperative that healthy patterns are established from childhood. If everyone was a healthy weight in the UK around 24,000 cancer cases could be prevented each year.'

Gavin Partington, British Soft Drinks Association director general, said: ‘The health lobby has a committed view on the issue of taxation despite the evidence noted by Public Health England and the McKinsey Global Institute indicating reductions in portion size and product reformulation to reduce sugar content are more effective in terms of impact on levels of obesity.

‘By contrast the soft drinks tax in Mexico has reduced average calorie intake by six calories per day and a model promoted by campaigners in the UK suggests a 20 per cent soft drinks tax would reduce it by a mere four calories per day.’