The turmoil and political drama of recent months has created uncertainty about the future direction of public health policy. There have been big changes in the UK government’s efforts to help people lead healthier lifestyles. It’s nothing more than an “anti-obesity” agenda and long-promised restrictions on foods and drinks high in fat, salt, or sugar. (HFSS). Plans were delayed due to the cost of living crisis, after which the restrictions were to be lifted, but it is currently unclear which direction the new leadership will take.
Given the current economic climate, it is understandable why government direction on healthier lifestyles is still unclear, but this needs to change. Improving the health of the population is not only a social priority but will help alleviate economic pressures in the long run.Today, nearly two-thirds of UK adults are overweight. , with costs associated with lost productivity and increased social care estimated at up to £7.5 billion.
That’s why new politician Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I (SBF GB&I), makers of Lucozado, Livina and Orangina, recently assembled a panel of legislators, industry experts, academics and health activists to promote healthier diets and active lifestyles. We discussed how we can work together to encourage. .
healthier diet
The main focus of the discussion was how to reconfigure, innovate and offer choice to consumers. SBF GB&I began restructuring its drinks in 2013, long before the HFSS limit or “sugar tax” was considered. Today, the company’s beverages are all non-HFSS, removing more than 98 billion calories and 25,000 tons of sugar from consumers’ diets to match or improve taste.The company offers consumers choice. To do so, we have launched low and no calorie alternatives for all our brands and have invested over £13m in our factories to increase our capacity to produce new low sugar beverages and brands.
This initiative is in line with SBF GB&I’s ‘Growing for Good’ vision of positively impacting the lives of consumers. However, this is also consistent with the findings of McKinsey’s 2014 Comprehensive Report on Obesity, which he found to be one of the most influential interventions available. did.
Industry has made progress, but government policies over the past decade have not always provided a stable environment in which companies can invest the time and money needed to successfully innovate and transform. There was a consensus that Nikki Pegg, Director of Research and Development at SBF GB&I, commented: This is to balance the needs of retailers and consumers. ”
Thus, an “on/off” approach to the anti-obesity agenda creates uncertainty, undermines confidence and is a barrier to further progress. It sends mixed signals by not publicly supporting the tools needed for such work, including sweeteners that have been thoroughly tested and proven safe by regulators around the world. Please note that
It was agreed that more could be done to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs), as they often do not have the time or resources to reform. One of his attendees referred to the Scottish Government’s Reformulation for Health programme, which has been helping small and medium food companies reorganize their products since 2019. If the UK government adopts this programme, it has the potential to improve diets and health across the country.
Finally, there was a consensus that industry needs clear goals for reform. The introduction of the HFSS, the 2004/05 Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) to classify food and beverages, gave the industry a clear objective and was hailed as being in widespread use today. It was agreed that realistic and stable goals were needed to motivate companies to invest time and resources in developing healthier product lines. Most believe that all countries in the UK should continue to use her NPM as it stands, and that differences between devolved countries lead to supply chain complexity and potential costs to consumers. Concerns were raised that it might create
Promote sports and physical activity
Alongside the diet discussion, participants agreed that innovation from manufacturers requires broader measures, such as promoting physical activity. In fact, his recent YouGov poll released at the debate found that 69% of lawmakers believe sports and physical activity are the most important ways to encourage a healthier lifestyle. rice field.
This is an approach already taken by SBF GB&I. His £30m investment in the ‘Made to Move’ campaign has pushed his 1.5m people across the UK to do more in his three years. A company representative also outlined how he is harnessing the power of the Lucozade Sport brand, his 15th most culturally relevant sports brand in the world (Fan Intelligence Index, 2019). . current partner.
Participants considered the lowest physical activity levels in the most disadvantaged communities. There have been calls for governments to identify and address the social challenges and inequalities that currently limit people’s ability to function.
Born Barikor, Founder and CEO of Our Parks, a community exercise organization sponsored by Lucozade Sport, raised the importance of understanding exactly what it means to be “active” or “inactive,” I acknowledge the difference in definitions. He suggested that we need to put in place a universal system, similar to the ‘five times a day’ goal for fruits and vegetables, which was agreed upon.
Participants also discussed how physical activity is often treated as a mechanism for coping with obesity, ignoring the overall role of physical activity in health and mental well-being. The need to recognize the benefits was emphasized, with some participants calling for a renewed focus on “establishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.” This was presented as another view that governments should adopt when working on health policy.
At the end of the session, participants reiterated the need to shift policy focus from ‘obesity’ to ‘healthier lifestyles’ and address causes rather than consequences. Carol Robert, Chief Operating Officer of SBF GB&I, said that while there is no silver bullet to promote better health, “For both business and government, think about the broader equation that includes both diet and active lifestyles.” There is real opportunity,” he concluded. .
Roundtable attendees include: Nikki Pegg, Director of Research and Development at SBF GB&I. She is the CEO of Our Parks She was born in Barikor. Lord Bethel, former Minister of Innovation. Dr. Adam Briggs, Senior Policy Fellow, The Health Foundation. Tom Burton, National Partnership Lead (Health and Inequality), Sport England. Kate Halliwell, Chief Scientific Officer of the Food and Beverage Federation.Dr. Dolly Tice, Visiting Scholar, MRC Epidemiology Unit
