Medical professionals – from surgeons and psychiatrists to paediatricians and GPs – have set out their recommendations for tackling obesity in a report published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC).
The report presents an action plan for future campaigning activity, setting out 10 recommendations for healthcare professionals, local and national government, industry and schools which it believes will help tackle the UK’s obesity crisis.
The report calls for a tax on all sugary soft drinks, a ban on fast food outlets near schools and colleges, mandatory food-based standards in all hospitals and £100 million spent on weight management services provisions.
Paediatrician Professor Terence Stephenson, chair of the AoMRC, said: “As health professionals, we see it across all our disciplines – from the GP’s surgery to the operating table and everything in between. So it is no exaggeration to say that it is the biggest public health crisis facing the UK today.”
“Yet too often, vested interests dub it too complex to tackle. It’s now time to stop making excuses and instead begin forging alliances, trying new innovations to see what works and acting quickly to tackle obesity head on – otherwise, the majority of this country’s health budget could be consumed by an entirely avoidable condition.”