Pubs escape obesity blame
Pubs, restaurants and other caterers have not been blamed for Britain's growing obesity crisis.
In a report published by Parliament's health committee MPs, food manufacturers, advertisers and schools all came under fire for failing to tackle the problem.
But pubs and other caterers were not mentioned directly in the lengthy and extensive report.
Last month health minister Melanie Johnson told food pubs they had to take responsibility for helping customers make healthier choices.
But in the health committee's wide-ranging report on obesity, published last week, food pubs were let off the hook.
"The causes of obesity are diverse, complex and in the main underpinned by what are now entrenched societal norms," the report admitted.
Instead of pointing the finger at pubs and restaurants, the report blamed MPs for failing to act sooner as well as food companies for not taking responsibility for what their products contain and how they are marketed.
Advertisers came under fire for using celebrities such as Gary Lineker and David Beckham to promote unhealthy snacks and drinks. And schools were blamed for failing to provide proper food education, sports lessons or healthy meals.
Alcohol was also criticised with the report claiming the rise in drunkenness and binge drinking could have contributed to the growing obesity problem.
The government is now expected to act on some of the report's recommendations which included restricting advertising food to children, improving school meals and encouraging people to take more exercise.
The report said obesity was a difficult problem to tackle with many different sectors needed to act, but it added: "However to fail to address this problem would be to condemn future generations, for the first time in over a century, to shorter life expectancies than their parents."
Obesity facts and figures
- In 1998 obesity-related sickness cost the NHS £480m. Obesity also contributed to indirect costs (for example premature deaths, sick days) of £2.1bn.
In 2002 food manufacturers spent £178.2m on advertising chocolate, crisps, sweets and snacks. The government's "five a day" campaign to encourage people to eat more fruit and vegetables cost £5m.
A 25-year-old man would have to walk quickly for 36 minutes to burn off the calories in a pint of beer. A cheeseburger would require 76 minutes of quick walking and a chicken korma would require 100 minutes.
Related articles:
Government's health plan given pubco backing (21 May 2004)
Kids' law could force a pub menu crackdown (20 May 2004)
Pubs have a duty to offer healthier foods, say MPs (14 May 2004)
