Inhibiting obesity

Earlier data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that Europe will face a population obesity crisis in 2030, when more than half of the adult population in many European countries will be overweight. Britain is a "disaster area". Some analysis points out that by 2030, about one third of women in Britain will be overweight and three quarters of men will be overweight.

In response to the growing trend of obesity, the National Health Service (NHS) recently declared a war on obesity, banning the sale of oversized chocolate bars in shops, restaurants and vending machines in hospitals.

The new rules require that 80% of the chocolate candies sold must have calories equal to or less than 250 calories, and 80% of sugary beverages must contain less than 5 grams of sugar per 100 ml. In addition, the new rules also recommend that 75% of pre-packaged sandwiches have fewer calories than 400 calories, and small pre-packaged meals and sandwiches must meet the standard of no more than 5 grams of saturated fat per 100 grams. When checking out, the merchant shall not sell sugary, fat or salty food.

For hospitals that successfully implement the new regulation, NHS promises to give hospitals additional financial incentives. Simon Stevens, one of the sponsors of the new regulation, said the NHS was working hard to "fight" the causes of obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, heart disease and cancer. "We hope that healthy food can replace sugary and calorie snacks and become the first choice for staff, patients and tourists." Simon Stevens said.

In fact, as a provider of medical services, NHS has failed to set an example. It is understood that 700,000 of NHS's 1.3 million employees are overweight or obese, and they will change unhealthy eating habits under the influence of the new regulation.

Royal Voluntary Service, the UK's largest hospital retailer, said they had introduced healthier dietary choices earlier and had seen real results. In the first quarter of 2017, fruit sales increased by a quarter and healthy sweets by 109%.

Many people don't understand the NHS's practice very well. They don't think it's necessary for hospitals to introduce such regulations and restrict snacks. In this regard, the British Public Health Bureau is very confident that hospitals play an important role in preventing obesity, not only to address the consequences of obesity, the treatment of obesity-related diseases.

In order to better prevent obesity, the NHS in Britain has taken great pains. In April this year, relevant measures were taken to ban the sale of sugary drinks if the hospital outlets did not reduce the sales of sugary drinks. This new regulation shows once again the determination to declare war on obesity.

However, Helen Dickens of the British Diabetes Association believes that although the new rules can encourage people to make healthier food choices, they are only a small step towards addressing obesity. "We need to do more," Dickens also called on the government to tighten restrictions on children's food marketing, prohibit low-cost promotion of unhealthy foods and enforce mandatory food packaging labels.