Swindon’s Obesity and Malnutrition Crisis Worsens with Rising Food Prices

It’s concerning to hear that rising food prices in Swindon could lead to more people in the area falling into obesity and malnutrition. The rate of obesity in the borough is coming down, but it’s still higher than the regional and national average. To address this, the borough council is taking a ‘whole system approach’ to both obesity and smoking reduction, looking at things like access to funds, education, and access to physical activity.

It’s particularly worrying that a quarter of children in reception class are obese or overweight, and this increases to one-third by year six. The cost-of-living crisis could also be driving up rates of excess weight, as people buy more processed but cheaper food. And while some children are overweight, others are malnourished, which can have a huge impact on their education and life chances.

It’s important to ensure that children are eating the right amount of food, and not being encouraged to eat more than they need. Unfortunately, the image of Santa Claus is often used to encourage children to eat more than they need, which can lead to weight gain and obesity. We must ensure that children are eating the right amount of food, and not being encouraged to overeat.