Time to step up the UK’s child obesity fight: Will 2022 be a breakthrough year for change?

The year 2022 may see the UK take concrete action on tackling child obesity, as the issue has become more severe, particularly in light of lockdown lifestyles.

Previous figures noted childhood obesity costs the NHS an estimated £6.1 billion (US$7.9 billion), costing wider society £27 billion (US$35.1 billion) annually. Meanwhile, the UK government last year announced it would allot £100 million (US$139 million) to help support children, adults and families achieve and maintain healthy weights.

Alarming figures have prompted calls for the nutrition industry to step up after it emerged obesity was a factor in more than one million admissions to the NHS.

Last year, the second part of the UK National Food Strategy was unveiled, seeking to escape the food junk cycle, create a long-term shift in food culture, reduce diet-related inequality and make the best use of land.

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