The headline grabbing statement has come from Simon Stevens, who is the head of NHS England. Stephens has said that parents must take greater responsibility for what their children eat and drink.
Stephens made this statement on a BBC television program this month. Speaking to presented Andre Marr, as picked up by The Daily Telegraph, Stephens said: “We’ve done very well in terms of cutting smoking and teenage pregnancy and drink driving. But the new smoking is obesity. One in five cancer deaths is now caused by obesity.”
He then went onto add: “the new smoking is obesity. One in five cancer deaths is now caused by obesity.”
In relation to this, as The Guardian reports, Stephens placed the responsibility of parents although he also called on the food industry to reduce sugar content. Directing his comments to parents, he said: ““As parents, we’ve got responsibilities. When your children come home after school – it’s water, or milk, not fizzy drinks or juice. Cut-up apples not sugary bars. We’ve got responsibilities in schools.”
With food companies, Stephens is hoping that the food industry will cut sugar voluntarily. However, he also indicated that laws could be implemented if food companies do not cut sugar voluntarily. This is an unusual step by a Conservative politician, in terms of considering increased regulation.
Stephens made his comments in-line with a new report issued by the U.K. government. Here the advice runs that “A high sugar diet increases the risk of tooth decay and weight gain, and high consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks is associated with type 2 diabetes.”
