BHF welcomes healthy food initiative to help reduce high rates of obesity

A new healthy food standard has been announced  by the Government with the hope that big businesses will promote healthier food and drink and “make the healthy choice the easy choice”. We believe this is an important step with the potential to help to curb the UK’s growing obesity numbers.

Changing standards 

A new partnership between the Government and the food industry has been formed ahead of the 10 Year Health Plan.  

This will include large retailers including supermarkets being set a new standard to make the average shopping basket slightly healthier.  

Government figures suggest that by cutting daily calories by just 50 calories, it could lift 340,000 children and 2 million adults in the UK out of obesity.  

What we think about it 

John Maingay, our Director of Policy said: “A new standard to make meals across the UK healthier is a huge step towards creating a food environment that supports better heart health. This move recognises the vital role that businesses can play in supporting everyone to have a healthier diet.  

“Obesity puts people at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which remains one of the UK’s biggest killers. We hope to see real momentum behind this new standard to make the healthier choice the easiest choice once and for all.” 

How obesity impacts the heart

Excess weight can lead to fatty material building up in your arteries, known as atherosclerosis. If the arteries that carry blood to your heart get damaged and clogged, it can lead to a heart attack, and if this happens in the arteries that carry blood to your brain, it can lead to a stroke or vascular dementia.  

Obesity can also increase your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.  

Find out more about obesity risks