Poor eating habits are key drivers of health inequalities, with various barriers existing to make it harder for both children and adults to make healthy eating choices.
Public Health England in 2017 found that London has some of the highest densities of fast-food outlets in England, and that these are greatest in deprived communities [1].
Analysis by London’s Child Obesity Taskforce on barriers that children face to eat healthily found a number of factors that relate to income, such as long working hours, lack of money and limited kitchen amenities [2].
As a result, children living in areas of lower average income are more likely to be both obese and malnourished.
The Mayor has recently announced “emergency funding” of £130 million to provide free school meals for all primary school children in London for the 2023/24 academic year.
For the first of two meetings on healthy living, the London Assembly Health Committee will meet tomorrow to examine the importance of healthy eating habits and what further action the Mayor could take to reduce barriers to healthy eating for Londoners.
The guests are:
- Dr Tom Coffey OBE, Mayoral Health Adviser, Greater London Authority (GLA)
- Emma Pawson, Head of Health, GLA
- Sonia Pombo, Public Health Nutritionist, Queen Mary University of London, and Campaign Lead, Action on Salt
- Peter Rogers OBE JP, Co-founder, Highams Park Food Aid
- Ruth Soroko, Chief Executive and Founder, Eat Club
- Taz Khan, Chief Executive Officer, London’s Community Kitchen
The meeting will take place on Thursday 2 March from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- Public Health England Fast food outlets: density by local authority in England, 2017
- London’s Obesity Taskforce What makes it harder for London's children to be healthier 2019
- Full agenda papers.
- Krupesh Hirani AM, Chair of the Health Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Health Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Emma Bowden in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.