NEWS: Government Launches Major Drive to Curb Childhood Obesity

The government has announced an ambitious plan to tackle the growing crisis of childhood obesity, promising faster action to help families make healthier choices and close health gaps across England

As reported by National Health Executive, the new strategy brings in a raft of measures, including:

• A ban on junk food advertising before 9pm and online
• A consultation on restricting high-caffeine energy drinks for under-16s
• Updated school food standards to ensure balanced meals
• Prohibiting ‘buy one get one free’ and similar promotions on unhealthy foods
• Expanded free school meals for families receiving Universal Credit
• Free breakfast clubs for all primary school pupils
• Stricter baby food guidelines to reduce sugar and salt

Recent figures from more than 1.1 million pupils measured during 2024–25 show obesity affects 10.5% of reception-age children and 22.2% of year 6 pupils. Children in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to be living with obesity as those in the least deprived.

The latest data also marks the highest obesity rate among reception children since national monitoring began in 2006–07, excluding pandemic years.

Officials estimate the new actions could remove 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets annually, prevent obesity in around 40,000 young people, and generate £2 billion in health benefits with £180 million in savings for the NHS over the next 25 years.