Last week, the government released its Obesity Strategy. While a move towards active travel is to be welcomed, the government must look at wider sport and recreation alternatives and invest in the sector for the long-term.

The new strategy covers a wide range of areas designed to take long-term pressure off the NHS with targeted interventions on diet and junk food. These include:

•  A ban on promotional offers on high fat, salt and sugar foods

•  A ban on junk food adverts before the 9pm watershed

•  Expansion of weight management NHS services

•  Increased help with calorie counting in public venues such as pubs and restaurants

These are to be welcomed and we have seen through the Sugar Tax that done properly these measures can work and can also benefit sport.

However, on the face of it, it does look like the strategy is more carrots and less hockey sticks.

The Sport + Recreation Alliance have looked more into the detail of this. To read their full response to the strategy click here: https://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/news/politics/obesity-strategy-a-case-of-more-carrots-les