16th Jan 2025 - 05:00
Image
Abstract
Obesity Action Scotland has created a petition to restrict unhealthy food sponsorship at Scottish sporting events.
A spokesperson for Obesity Action Scotland said: “High fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) food are detrimental to public health and contribute to Scotland’s rising obesity rates, particularly among children.
“Allowing HFSS product sponsorship in Scottish sporting events undermines efforts to achieve healthy weight due to their influence on obesity and comorbidities, and the susceptibility of children to sponsorship and marketing tactics promoting unhealthy products.
“Sports are geared to foster healthy living and HFSS food promotions takes away from this goal. We call for urgent steps to keep HFSS food availability and sponsorship out of sports.”
With the Commonwealth Games in 2026 fast approaching, the petition calls for actions to:
- Ensure sporting events in Scotland are free from sponsorship by high fat, sugar and salt food companies.
- Adopt a child-rights approach to restrict HFSS food advertising and marketing within and around sports venues.
- Promote affordable, sustainable and healthy food options at and near sporting venues.
- Restrict promotion of HFSS food in television and other media platforms.
- Ensure sports persons do not endorse any HFSS food brand elements.