Scotland May Force A Reduction On Portion Sizes

Scotland is one of the most obese countries in the world

The Scottish National Party is getting tough on obesity and has come up with a whole range of new initiatives in the Scottish Parliament which will include making recommendations to chefs to reduce the amount of calories in their meals along with a warning that if they don’t do so legislation to force them could follow.

Scotland is one of the most obese countries in the world with chronic health problems. Only America and Mexico have higher rates of obesity than Scotland. The figures show that almost 27 percent of adults in Scotland have a BMI of 30+ making them obese and that over 65 percent are categorised as overweight with a BMI of 25+. The obesity problem is also very apparent in Scottish children.

Ms. Shona Robison, the public health minister for Scotland explained that no government worldwide had been able to have a significant effect on reducing its nations’ obesity rates and that her intention was to make Scotland the first.  Her proposals have taken into account the fact that people cannot be expected to change their eating patterns alone and that strong government intervention is essential if results are to be had.

She explained that the government would work with food producers, catering firms and supermarkets to make portion sizes smaller so that they would be conducive to healthy weight loss. The idea would be to create standardised portion sizes in all ‘ready meals’ found in supermarkets and in restaurants.

At Ukmedix News we wish Ms. Shona Robison the best of luck with her brave new initiative. She is likely to face a battle from restaurant owners and food manufacturers who will be hesitant to change. The threat of legislation should be mentioned at all times because change does not just happen on its own and often requires a strong push or threat.

It needs to be made illegal to produce very unhealthy food especially if it is aimed at children who are vulnerable and unable to make sensible healthy eating decisions on their own. The obesity problem of Scotland has now become so chronic that it is burdening the National Health Service with millions of pounds every year in treating obesity related illnesses.