Health bosses back regional campaign on sugar

Blackburn with Darwen health bosses are backing a new regional campaign to raise awareness of the link between the consumption of sugary drinks and weight gain and a range of other associated health conditions.

Give Up Loving Pop (Gulp) has been created by Food Active – in conjunction with North West Directors of Public Health – after research revealed a lack of awareness of the issues from both adults and young people.

Gulp will be rolling into city centres in the North West this week to encourage parents and young people to think again before reaching for the pop.

Dominic Harrison, Director of Public Health for Blackburn with Darwen, said:

“As well as damaging your teeth, overconsumption of sugary drinks can lead to weight gain, type 2 diabetes and poor heart health. It is vital that we send a message to Government about the damage that is being done to the health of our children and young people. Food manufacturers often argue that children should be free to make their own choices. My response is, yes, let children be free to choose their food but stop promoting sugar products through advertising and sports sponsorship to young children in a way that makes their choices the opposite of ‘free’.”

Robin Ireland, Director of Food Active and the Gulp campaign, added:

“As sugary drinks manufacturers seem less-than-willing to inform the public about the health harms associated with overconsumption of their products the Gulp campaign has launched to get the message across and take the fight to the manufacturers.”

Food Active is a collaborative programme launched by the North West Directors of Public Health in November 2013 to tackle increasing levels of obesity.