Council calls for national support to tackle childhood obesity

The rising popularity and accessibility of fast food takeaways are contributing to childhood obesity, and councils are urging central government for more support to address the crisis.

Gateshead Council was the first in the UK to implement a bold policy in 2015, banning new hot food takeaways across the area. Despite being a controversial move, council leader Martin Gannon described it as a necessary step to encourage healthier choices.

At the time, 23 per cent of 10- and 11-year-olds in Gateshead were living with obesity, well above the national average of 19 per cent. The council aimed to halve this figure within a decade. However, the latest data shows only a slight reduction of 0.5 per cent, with rates in the most deprived areas improving by up to 4.8 per cent, thanks to the policy.

While the initiative had localised success, overall results have been hampered by the evolving food environment. The Covid-19 pandemic fueled a surge in food delivery apps and "dark kitchens" (takeaway-only businesses that bypass traditional planning restrictions). Gateshead now has one of the UK’s highest densities of dark kitchens, with 116 in 2024.

Experts like Professor Amelia Lake from Teesside University argue that local government policies cannot keep pace with these changes. Alice Wiseman, Gateshead’s Director of Public Health, likens the challenge to the fight against tobacco: “Every restriction leads to the industry finding new loopholes.”

To combat the issue, Gateshead has joined broader efforts, including tighter junk food advertising restrictions. Labour North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, a supporter of Jamie Oliver’s #AdEnough campaign, is working to ban junk food ads on public transport across the region, sending a clear message to food companies.

The Department for Health and Social Care acknowledged the need for prevention-focused measures, emphasising that tackling obesity is vital to reducing long-term health costs. Meanwhile, trade bodies like UKHospitality call for balanced policies that recognise the hospitality sector’s economic contributions while addressing public health challenges.