A report by the Food Foundation has shown that the quality of food we’re feeding our children dramatically impacts their health, growth and intelligence.
Kids are Shorter, Fatter and Sicker
The report highlights that thanks to poor diets, food poverty and food insecurity, many children are suffering severe yet avoidable health consequences.
Obesity-Related Diseases Increasing
The report says that obesity rates in children are up by nearly a third. Type 2 diabetes rates are up by over 20%.
Children Are Getting Shorter
The report also says that the number of UK children is shrinking thanks to poor nutrition. In the 1980s, British kids were 69th of 200 in height. Now they’re 96th (girls) and 102nd (boys).
Marketing Key to Decline
A significant part of the problem is the aggressive marketing of high-sugar, high-fat foods to children. Campaigners are seeking a change in advertising rules to make them less visible to young viewers.
Childhood Obesity Causes Further Complications
As well as the apparent physical health issues, childhood obesity has also been linked to significant mental health problems.
‘Ticking Time Bomb’ Awaits NHS
If health problems start early and in more significant numbers, this will likely cause a much more enormous burden for the NHS than it can handle.
Food System “Failures”
Henry Dimbleby, the author of the National Food Strategy, said: “The decline in children’s health shown clearly in this report is a shocking and unfortunate result of the failures of the food system in the UK.”
Government Action Needed
He continued: “We need the next government to take decisive action to make healthy and sustainable food affordable, stem the constant flow of junk food and to realise that investing in children’s health is an investment in the future of the country.”
Problem Isn’t Purely Economic
Previously, the belief was that poor food quality was the reserve of poor countries, but the picture is changing.
Experts Say the Problem is a New One
“We used to think of the combination of undernutrition and obesity as a feature of low and middle income countries. We are now seeing it in Britain in 2024” said Michael Marmot, the director of UCL’s Institute of health equity.
Life Expectancy Impacted
Marmot continued: “Over a century of history has led us to expect continuous improvements in health. Over the last dozen years that has changed. Healthy life expectancy has declined. Quite simply, people’s fundamental human needs are not being met.”
Accountability Needs to be Shared
Food companies are powerful and can lobby the government to ensure they are well-protected and challenging to overrule.
Government Must Accept Some Responsibility
With a growing crisis in young people caused by an overconsumption of junk food, the government will need to look at all available steps to prevent the problem from getting out of hand.
Gordon Brown Critical of Government Inaction
The former Prime Minister said: “When the height of five-year-olds has been falling since 2013, and we’re learning babies born today will enjoy a year less good health than babies born a decade ago, every mother and father in the land will be concerned and shocked at what is happening to children through lack of nutrition, living through the hungry 2020s in food bank Britain.”
Food Foundation Director Also Frustrated
Anna Taylor, The Food Foundation’s executive director, has also been critical of the government. She said: “Politicians across the political spectrum must prioritise policies that give all children access to the nutrition they need to grow up healthily, as should be their right.”
Parents Bear Ultimate Responsibility
Fundamentally, the food decisions for most children are made by parents. Whilst some poor diets will be down to genuine financial hardship, many will be because parents haven’t prioritised their children’s health.
Curriculum Changes Urged
Some health experts have called for health and physical education to be considered a priority subject in schools, along with maths, English, and science.
Killed By Convenience
The unfortunate reality for many families is that time is limited, and sound nutritional practices fall by the wayside. Children are frequently fed freezer food and takeaways, and the problem begins to bite.
Problems Aren’t Irreversible
With sufficient government action against food manufacturers, a change in kids’ activity levels, and prioritising better choices at home and in schools, this problem can be fixed.
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