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RED BOX | PHIL SMITH, STEPHEN WOODFORD

Banning adverts on junk food can only ever be a sticking plaster

The Times

Even before the onset of the pandemic, it was clear Britain had a problem with obesity. It’s a serious public health issue which demands the attention of all parts of society. But the question is: which policies will best tackle the issue and make us healthier; and how can government and business work together to deliver them?

Ministers were right when they said recently that “tackling obesity is one of the greatest long-term health challenges this country faces” and “helping people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is one of the most important things we can do”. We agree with those aims. But we also believe we need to look at the reasons behind rising obesity and how we can solve the issue in