Health Ministry to address marketing of unhealthy foods to children

Health officials are concerned about the sponsorship of school-related sporting events by companies that sell and advertise unhealthy foods and drinks.

And while she did not state explicitly how this would be addressed, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr Sonia Browne said some policy decisions would have to be taken to address that situation as well as the general marketing of unhealthy products to children, especially given the high rate of childhood obesity.

Delivering remarks at the start of a two-day workshop on Strategies to Reduce the Salt & Sugar Content of Foods in Barbados at Hilton Barbados Resort on Monday, Dr Browne said the marketing of calorie-dense, high-sugar, high-fat, high-salt foods to children was a major concern.

“This takes place not only through various media channels using signage, characters and symbols that appeal to children but through sponsorship of school-related sporting activities,” she said.

“This is of concern to the Ministry of Health and Wellness…. These challenges require a comprehensive suite of policies that are guided by evidence that it works and that it is cost effective.”

Dr Browne told attendees at the workshop hosted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) that although non-communicable diseases (NCDs) affect all age groups in Barbados, the number of overweight and obese children was worrying.

“In Barbados in 2018, 32 per cent of our children were overweight or obese. This is contributed to by low levels of physical activity and high levels of consumption of processed foods that are high in sugar and salt as well as fat,” she said.

“Obesity in the young is a precursor for obesity and NCDs in adulthood. Childhood obesity is increasing and small island developing states such as Barbados are particularly vulnerable to its impacts on development and our economies. While prior to the 1980s undernourishment was the major issue in our region, the rates of paediatric obesity have been increasing.”

Dr Browne noted that health authorities were also seeing a worrying shift in children eating more foods prepared outside of the home that are high in salt, refined sugars, cholesterol, trans fats and saturated fats.

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb