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STV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Takeaways have 'lots of scope' for reduction amid obesity crackdown
NHS Fife has said takeaways and restaurants offer 'lots of scope' in reducing Scots calorie intake amid a pilot aimed at tackling obesity. The pilot scheme will see the health board work with inspectors and local vendors to help combat overeating. In the new report from the health board, it says that takeaways and full-service restaurants have 'lots of scope' for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight. 'In 2021, people in Scotland took three out-of-home trips per week on average, with one in six adults eating out at least once a week,' it read. 'Taste, ease, and convenience are the main reasons for eating out of home. Portion sizes tend to be bigger, resulting in greater caloric intake when eating out of home as compared to eating at home.' NHS Fife's director of Public Health, Dr Joy Tomlinson, said in the report she wants to 'explore the potential for place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create health places and spaces.' The crackdown comes after a 2023 report found that a record 32% of Scots were living with obesity and a further 34% were overweight. It marked the highest level of obesity reported in the Scottish Health Survey and was significantly higher than the 24% reported in 2003. The report, urging Scots to eat better, said evidence from the Scottish Burden of Disease Study shows that the health of Fife's population would be improved if everyone ate a healthier diet and stayed as active as possible. However, it added there remain significant structural barriers for people living in Fife to access a healthy diet and stay physically active as part of their everyday lives. The barriers included affordability and food insecurity but hidden factors such as having the time and confidence and skills to cook from scratch, lack of resources for energy to cook and the means to travel to shops that offer a wide range of foods. The report said: 'Lack of confidence and poor cooking skills, and lack of food knowledge contributes to the lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher intake of high fat, high sugar foods processed foods of people in Fife. Improved access to affordable healthy food is crucial to making improvements in what people eat.' Service Manager Lisa McCann said: 'The council is not considering introducing calorie or portion size limits to takeaways. We're working with partners to see how best we can take forward a range of initiatives to encourage physical activity and improve access to healthier diets. 'One of these initiatives is in the very early stages of exploring the feasibility of a calorie reduction pilot project with our Public Health partners. It would potentially look at the understanding among retailers of the calories on their menus and portion sizes, how they may be able to reduce these and what support would be required if they were interested in doing so.' NHS Fife has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- STV News
Takeaways facing portion control limits amid obesity crackdown
Fife Council could implement portion control limits on the amount of food offered at takeaways in a new pilot aimed at tackling obesity. The pilot scheme will see NHS Fife work with inspectors and local vendors to help combat overeating. In the new report from the health board, it says that takeaways and full-service restaurants have 'lots of scope' for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight. 'In 2021, people in Scotland took three out-of-home trips per week on average, with one in six adults eating out at least once a week,' it read. 'Taste, ease, and convenience are the main reasons for eating out of home. Portion sizes tend to be bigger, resulting in greater caloric intake when eating out of home as compared to eating at home.' NHS Fife's director of Public Health, Dr Joy Tomlinson, said in the report she wants to 'explore the potential for place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create health places and spaces.' The crackdown comes after a 2023 report found that a record 32% of Scots were living with obesity and a further 34% were overweight. It marked the highest level of obesity reported in the Scottish Health Survey and was significantly higher than the 24% reported in 2003. The report, urging Scots to eat better, said evidence from the Scottish Burden of Disease Study shows that the health of Fife's population would be improved if everyone ate a healthier diet and stayed as active as possible. However, it added there remain significant structural barriers for people living in Fife to access a healthy diet and stay physically active as part of their everyday lives. The barriers included affordability and food insecurity but hidden factors such as having the time and confidence and skills to cook from scratch, lack of resources for energy to cook and the means to travel to shops that offer a wide range of foods. The report said: 'Lack of confidence and poor cooking skills, and lack of food knowledge contributes to the lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher intake of high fat, high sugar foods processed foods of people in Fife. Improved access to affordable healthy food is crucial to making improvements in what people eat.' NHS Fife has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scottish council plans to order takeaways to shrink fish supper portions to tackle obesity
A raft of measures are being looked at to tackle obesity levels. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Scottish council is looking to shrink the size of fish suppers in a bid to tackle rising obesity levels. Fife Council and NHS Fife are working together on a raft of measures to tackle obesity in the region, including telling takeaways to reduce their portion sizes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Other plans include 'excluding unhealthy food' from being advertised on billboards and to 'explore the feasibility of advertising healthy foods'. Have a look through our photo gallery to see 15 chippies in Edinburgh where you can get a cheap fish supper. Photo: Pixabay | Pixabay This comes as the Scottish Government looks at proposals to reduce the amount of high salt items on sale, potentially banning buy-one, get-one-free deals on sweets and crisps, and ending meals deals with high-fat products. Dr Joy Tomlinson, director of public health at NHS Fife, said the health board wanted to 'explore' the potential for 'place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create healthy places and spaces'. She said: 'Evidence from the Scottish burden of disease study shows us that the health of Fife's population would be improved if everyone were to eat a healthier diet and stay as active as possible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Portion sizes tend to be bigger, resulting in greater caloric intake when eating out of home compared to eating at home. Takeaways and full-service restaurants have lots of scope for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight." In a report, Dr Tomlinson said a 'lack of confidence and poor cooking skills and lack of food knowledge' was contributing to 'lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher intake of high fat, high sugar foods and processed foods by people in Fife'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'Improved access to affordable healthy food is crucial to making improvements in what people eat.'
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scottish council plans to order takeaways to shrink fish supper portions to tackle obesity
A raft of measures are being looked at to tackle obesity levels. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Scottish council is looking to shrink the size of fish suppers in a bid to tackle rising obesity levels. Fife Council and NHS Fife are working together on a raft of measures to tackle obesity in the region, including telling takeaways to reduce their portion sizes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Other plans include 'excluding unhealthy food' from being advertised on billboards and to 'explore the feasibility of advertising healthy foods'. Have a look through our photo gallery to see 15 chippies in Edinburgh where you can get a cheap fish supper. Photo: Pixabay | Pixabay This comes as the Scottish Government looks at proposals to reduce the amount of high salt items on sale, potentially banning buy-one, get-one-free deals on sweets and crisps, and ending meals deals with high-fat products. Dr Joy Tomlinson, director of public health at NHS Fife, said the health board wanted to 'explore' the potential for 'place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create healthy places and spaces'. She said: 'Evidence from the Scottish burden of disease study shows us that the health of Fife's population would be improved if everyone were to eat a healthier diet and stay as active as possible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Portion sizes tend to be bigger, resulting in greater caloric intake when eating out of home compared to eating at home. Takeaways and full-service restaurants have lots of scope for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight." In a report, Dr Tomlinson said a 'lack of confidence and poor cooking skills and lack of food knowledge' was contributing to 'lower fruit and vegetable intake and higher intake of high fat, high sugar foods and processed foods by people in Fife'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'Improved access to affordable healthy food is crucial to making improvements in what people eat.'
The Courier
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Courier
Fife takeaways could face portion size limits in council obesity crackdown
Councils could soon tell takeaways to cut down on the amount of food they offer in the latest attempt to tackle obesity. A unique pilot scheme in Fife will see food standards inspectors and the NHS work with local vendors to help stop Scots overeating. The scheme would target calorie counts and portion sizes on menus – but, in the future, council planners could use the licensing system to enforce limits. As part of drastic new measures to attack poor diet, Fife Council is also considering a ban on junk food adverts on roundabouts and replacing them with promos for fruit and vegetables. The carrot-and-stick crackdown has been revealed in documents that could act as a blueprint for local authorities across Scotland. NHS Fife's Director of Public Health, Dr Joy Tomlinson, states in her latest annual report that she wants to 'explore… the potential for place-based approaches to planning and collaborative working to create healthy places and spaces. 'Takeaways and full-service restaurants have lots of scope for calorie reduction and helping communities achieve a healthy weight. '(Research) findings lend weight to the viability of portion size reduction as a way of reducing calorie intake. 'There is a place for working with the out-of-home sector to understand retailers' knowledge of calories on their menus, and knowledge of portion size. 'Exploratory work between Public Health, Health Promotion and Fife Council Protective Services has begun into a possible pilot in one area of Fife.' The National Obesity Forum campaign group backed the use of 'powers to limit the licensing of takeaways and fast-food outlets and the junk they sell'. Chairman Tam Fry said: 'It's disgraceful that six years have elapsed since calories on menus were recommended in Scotland. 'Although Fife appears to be getting around to taking action, it's still only playing catch-up to overcome generations of Scottish obesity.' A record 32% of Scots adults are now obese, with figures increasing despite government strategies to reverse the trend. Almost a third of children are overweight, a proportion that is stubbornly refusing to budge downwards. Health and council officials in Fife also want more nutritious, locally grown food in state-owned canteens and propose using public places to advertise fruit and vegetables in place of unhealthy products. Meanwhile, planners will look to use their powers to ensure that fast food shops aren't clustered in deprived areas, as they currently tend to be. Tomlinson writes: 'There remain significant structural barriers for people living in Fife to access a healthy diet and stay physically active as part of their everyday lives.'
