Proof child obesity will go down with sugar reduction

Achieving the UK government’s sugar reduction goals could result in a decrease of 5.5% of obese 4–10-year-olds and those over 18 respectively. — SPH

Reducing the sugar content of certain foods in the United Kingdom by 2020, in line with UK government policy targets, could cut child obesity and related illness, and save the National Health Service (NHS) in England £286 million (RM1,529mil) over 10 years, suggests a study published by The BMJ on Apr 17, 2019.

But these benefits could easily be lost if the targets are not fully met or if the programme leads to unintended changes in consumer or industry behaviour, warn the researchers.