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Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Food advertising

There was a question in the House on food advertising yesterday and I used it to flag up the mental health aspect of obesity. I am increasingly concerned about the link between obesity and depression.

I don't think there is a proven link - although I stand to be corrected on this - but I would be surprised if there wasn't a link in many cases. Life style alone can have a powerful impact on a persons mental state and it would be surprising if obesity didn't affect this in a lot of cases.

Any views?

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/60710-0885.htm#0607106000011

I know of at least 2 people whose weight issues are connected to low self esteem so I'd say you're point is valid.

It's one of the reasons I backed the notion of a total junk food ban in the recent Ofcom consultations.

Opinions?

Advertising of products that have no detrimental effect on life (indeed provides the nutrients required for life) should be free from advertisement restrictions. All food is 'good', what is bad is diet. 'Junk' food is entirely healthy when eaten as part of a responsible diet. I maintain a healthy physique through exercise and good eating but I drink pop, eat crisps, love chocolate, enjoy fast-food and drink alcohol/eat high sugar/fat products.

I would like to see you, Clive, sticking up for the freedom of people to consume (and be advertised) items that have zero detrimental effect on ones life when consumed as part of a healthy diet. The current hysteria over 'junk' food is seemingly little more than food snobbery.

Promote healthy-eating, sure, promote active lifestyles, promote the idea that we eat 'junk' food in moderation, promote individual responsibility for ones actions, hell even promote the idea of buying 'fairtrade' coffee, but don't think there is any kind of real justification for taxing or giving unfavourable legislation to 'junk' food.

"We have one of the highest rates of obesity in Europe, which is linked not only to diabetes but now also to depression, which has a profound impact on family functioning, not least parenting."

You are implying that fat people make bad parents, that they are sad and pathetic and should have information chanelled to them carefully via the media. Why should any politician shame a group of people with a large body size?

What has it got to do with you? If someone wants to eat to the detriment of their health - whether they are John Prescott, Charles Clarke, Ken Clarke or Nicholas Soames - it is their business, not the government.

There are plenty of people who will have seen TV programmes and magazine with messages promoting "healthy eating" and exercise as well as advertising of "junk food" (a code word for "working-class food" - since when has someone called for a fat tax on vol-au-vents and caviar?) and make their judgements on what to eat. You then have to put up and shut up and get on with solving problems like under-staffing in the health service. Or are you going to blame the lack of midwives on fat people?

what did lords eat in the medieval time