The UK government has today published its plans to tackle obesity and “empower adults and children to live healthier lives” post-COVID.
Under this new strategy, the government intends to ban advertisements of High Fat, Salt or Sugar (HFSS) products on television and online before 9pm, end the promotion of HFSS products in stores – including some half price offers, ‘buy one get one free’ offers and unhealthy snacks located at tills/checkouts – and ask restaurants, cafes and bars to disclose calorific content on on menus.
Changes will also be made to the ‘traffic light’ food labelling system.
The plans form part of the #BetterHealth campaign, of which COVID-19 has provided a “wake-up call” for.
Tackling obesity has been identified by the government as “one of the greatest long-term health challenges this country faces”.
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According to government data, two-thirds (63%) of UK adults are above a healthy weight, with 36% overweight and 28% obese, one in three children aged 10 to 11 are overweight or obese, and children living with obesity are five times more likely to become obese adults.
We’re taking action to help you fight obesity by:
➡️Banning adverts for high fat, salt or sugar products on TV and online before 9pm ➡️Calorie labelling in restaurants, cafes and takeaways ➡️Ending promotion of high fat, sugar or salt products in store and online
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) July 27, 2020
In the plans – published via the gov.uk website this morning – the government stated that: “Our country’s rates of obesity are storing up future problems for individuals and our NHS, but worryingly, there is now consistent evidence that people who are overweight or living with obesity who contract coronavirus (COVID-19) are more likely to be admitted to hospital, to an intensive care unit and, sadly to die from COVID-19 compared to those of a healthy body weight status.”
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“Obesity has become an immediate concern for anyone who is overweight and for our health and care services.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the plans would help “reduce our health risks and protect ourselves against coronavirus” and has admitted himself to losing around a stone since recovering from his admission to hospital with COVID-19 in April.
Losing weight is hard but with some small changes we can all feel fitter and healthier.
If we all do our bit, we can reduce our health risks and protect ourselves against coronavirus – as well as taking pressure off the NHS.
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) July 27, 2020
Writing in The Daily Telegraph today, Health Secretary Matt Hancock also added that: “This deadly virus has given us a wake-up call about the need to tackle the stark inequalities in our nation’s health,”
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“Obesity is an urgent example of this.”
“If everyone who is overweight lost five pounds it could save the NHS more than £100 million over the next five years. And more importantly, given the link between obesity and coronavirus, losing weight could be life-saving.”
We want to see more healthier products on food promotions to encourage healthier choices.
We will legislate to end the promotion of products high in fat, sugar & salt based on:
▶️ volume like 'buy one get one free' offers ▶️ location
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) July 27, 2020
Advertising rules are failing to protect children from seeing adverts for products high in fat, sugar or salt which are affecting their food preferences from a young age.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) July 27, 2020
Front of pack nutrition labelling helps shoppers to make informed decisions when purchasing food.
We will consult on our current ‘traffic light’ labelling system to learn more about how this is being used by consumers and industry.#BetterHealthpic.twitter.com/QV2pKYMp5K
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) July 27, 2020
Along with the ban on TV and online adverts before the watershed, the government said it would hold a consultation on whether to stop fast food adverts online altogether.
Labelling of calories on menus will apply to any restaurant, cafe or takeaway chain with more than 250 employees, and another new consultation will be launched around plans to provide the same information for alcoholic drinks.
The government is aiming to fully implement each of these measures before the end of 2022.
More information on today’s announcements can be found via the Department of Health and Social Care on Twitter here, and you can read the full plans for the #BetterHealth campaign via the gov.uk website here.
Free roses are being handed out at a Manchester train station this Valentine’s Day
Danny Jones
In an effort to spread the love this Valentine’s Day, free roses are being hands out to commuters at a Manchester train station this week.
Add that to the ever-growing list of why we absolutely adore this place.
Not everyone is coupled up come the most mush day of the year, nor do they need to be – self-love, Galentine’s and even just a whoelsome pint or two with the boys – but it’s nice to see Greater Mancs going out of their way to make things nicer for each other.
In our eyes, in a relationship or otherwise, this day is just about sharing the love with everyone and if you happen to arriving or leaving Manchester (excuse me, why would you ever?) from Victoria station this Friday, you could be in for a lovely little surprise.
The brains behind the touching little gesture is the city’s legendary live music and entertainment space, AO Arena.
Although many arrive at the venue via the Trinity Way Tunnel on the other side of Arena, the AO is already directly attached to Victoria by a simply set of stairs, meaning you can arrive in the city centre via train or tram and arrive directly at your destination.
It’s also one of the busiest stations in the North West, so for commuters looking to start the day with a little love, whether that be to treat their significant other, brighten a colleague’s day or just make themselves feel good, these roses are set to be handed out on Valentine’s Day morning.
100 of the most romantic flowers will be up for grabs from 8am at Manchester Victoria Station on a first-come, first served basis, naturally, Simple as that – but it gets better…
There is also an exciting chance to win a handful of surprises, including free tickets to a show at the arena, which will be given away with a select few lucky roses.
This year marks an extra special milestone for the AO Arena, as they are celebrating thirty years of spreading joy in the city as Manchester’s longest standing large music venue.
With that in mind and tying together the arena’s history and love for entertainment, each rose will be individually wrapped in a special 30th birthday edition print.
This design features the names of all artists and acts who have performed there over the last three decades; consider it just a small token of AO‘s love and affection for 0161, wrapped in nostalgia.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Manchester – you’ll always be ours x
Hundreds turn out for dying guide dog’s final walk along Blackpool seafront
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of people and their pets gathered on the Blackpool seafront for a terminally-ill guide dog’s final walk.
‘Ginger prince’ Labrador retriever Ian had been working hard guiding his owner, Mark, through the world and providing him with the independence needed to take on each day, and was not long off his retirement and getting to spend the rest of his days in a loving home.
One Ian got to around 10, he was set to hang up his harness and go on to live with his former Puppy Raiser, Gemma Fairhurst, along with her family and her other guide dog pups in training, so that Mark would still get to keep in touch with Ian and Ian would get to pass on his wisdom and teach the youngsters how it’s done.
But sadly, this plan won’t become a reality, as Ian was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Hundreds turned out for a dying guide dog’s final walk along Blackpool seafront / Credit: Gemma Fairhurst (via GoFundMe)
Vets told Mark and his wife Kerry around Christmas 2024 that Ian would sadly only have four-eight weeks to live.
Once Ian’s owners got in touch with Gemma to tell her the devastating news, she knew she had to do something to honour and celebrate him – and ultimately, raise funds for Guide Dogs to name another puppy Ian once he’d passed.
So, Gemma and Mark planned one last special walk for Ian along the Blackpool Promenade – the place he called home.
More than 200 people and 80 dogs joined in the walk / Credit: Sarah Summerton (via Guide Dogs)
“He’s led such a wonderful life and brought happiness to Mark and Kerry, but also to everyone that he’s met,” Gemma explained in her fundraiser.
“For me, he’s changed my life, and in many ways, he’s saved my life. He gave me the strength to carry on and he’s given Mark love and support that cannot be measured… so I’d like to raise the money it takes to name another guide dog, and the most perfect name I can think of is Ian.
“The cost to sponsor and name a guide dog is £5,000, so that’s what I’m trying to raise.”
The ‘big old doggy walk’ took place this past Sunday (9 February) from 2pm, and was open for any and everyone who would like to come along… and come along they did, as more than 200 people and 80 dogs arrived to walk along the seafront.
The walkers all contributed towards the ‘5,000 steps for £5,000’ target, with Ian leading the way at the front and being pushed along in a special troller by Mark and Gemma.
For the last leg of the journey, Ian even got out of his stroller and walked along the Promenade himself, with the walkers creating a guard of honour for him.
Ian’s story touched the heart of so many people across the North West, that Gemma absolutely smashed her target of £5,000, and at the time of writing, has raised more than £7,230 to name another guide dog puppy Ian.
Gemma said she’d been ‘overwhelmed’ by the support she’s received, and that people from all over the region turned up – including other guide dog puppies she raised in the past.