Professor John Wass, academic vice president and public health lead for the RCP said:
The RCP would welcome any improvements or expansion to traffic light food labeling schemes – as we know that calorie labeling does inform consumer choice. The RCP has urged all parties to take national action on obesity, including developing a national obesity strategy, new weight management clinics and to explore taxes on unhealthy foods.
Any initiative that highlights the worth of regular physical exercise is also vitally important as we know that high levels of obesity in the UK today form one of the key challenges facing the NHS. However, any recommendations on the levels of activity need to have a strong evidence base to support them.
We welcome any move to increase the price of cheap, strong alcohol that is fuelling health problems up and down the country and placing enormous pressure on our NHS and emergency services. However, the best evidence suggests that the introduction of a Minimum Unit Price for alcohol would have significant impact on the heaviest drinkers in our society and would save over 1,000 lives a year.
Read the RCP's five-point plan for the next government.
For more information, please contact Morgan Evans, RCP communications and new media adviser, on +44 (0)20 3075 1468 / 0779 508 8253, or email Morgan.Evans@rcplondon.ac.uk