Finish this sugar rush it is the only way to tackle the weight problems crisis | Simon Capewell

‘Added sugars are hidden all over the place: often there are four teaspoons of sugar in a tin of soup, 5 in a common Tv dinner, 6 in a yoghurt, 9 in a can of cola.’ Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Alamy/Alamy

A third of British young children and two-thirds of British grownups are obese or obese. Diabetes levels have doubled in the past two decades. Nevertheless, contrary to common belief this is not mostly due to our more and more sedentary lifestyles. It primarily outcomes from excess calories in our food and sugary drinks.

Extra sugars are hidden all over the place in modern food: usually there are 4 teaspoons of sugar in a tin of soup, 5 in a typical Television dinner, six in a yoghurt, 9 in a can of cola. At greatest, these extra sugars are empty calories with zero dietary worth at worst, they are toxic.

Typical sugar comprises glucose and fructose. Several scientists are convinced that the current substantial quantities of fructose consumption are harmful. Fructose molecules are processed in the liver into unwanted fat. This triggers the release of insulin (producing a pre-diabetes state) and raises blood pressure. Sort two diabetes could suggest a existence of increasing complications and an earlier death from a heart attack, stroke, cancer or dementia. Each week, this scientific proof is strengthened.

My daughter’s friend Susan (not her genuine title) is a delightful 11-yr-outdated, but a little chubby. Her college not too long ago scheduled an further hour of games for her class each day. Susan might burn up off an additional 100 kcal at every session, a weekly complete of 500 kcal. But on the way property on Fridays, Susan stops off for her reward: a cheeseburger. Yes, you’ve guessed it, 500 kcal in five minutes. Plus low-cost sugary cola, a further 110 kcal. When residence, Susan sits down to view television and absorbs the hefty advertising of junk food, sweets and sugary drinks. If her mum is functioning late, Susan heats up a Tv dinner (400kcal), washing it down with a can of sugary pop (140kcal). And so her fat increases. Like millions of other children in Britain right now.

Meanwhile, multibillion-pound industries get wealthy via manufacturing, advertising and retailing junk meals and sugary drinks. Over all, they worry any regulation that may possibly threaten long term income. So they focus on other (ineffective) options, such as Andrew Lansley’s “responsibility deal” amongst 2010 and 2014, and market “nudging” as a stylish approach to alter behaviour. Public overall health scientists had seen voluntary agreement video games played previously. In 2010, they predicted it would not work.

The four years of the accountability deal largely concerned industry and government sitting about tables dreaming up higher-profile pledges to “cut a billion calories” or minimally lessen sugar content in isolated items. The deal gave businesses a good deal of publicity. The taxpayer has hence funded market PR, but weight problems has elevated. And just two weeks ago came more revelations that many effectively-identified organizations had reneged on their pledges.

Additionally, the deal was employed by government and sector as an excuse to reject far more successful approaches. Without a doubt, the tactics utilised by Massive Tobacco, Large Booze and now Big Food lobbyists look comparable: denial, delays, detours and dramatic distractions.

Government attempts to lessen calories and sugar have failed (although industry apologists attempt to disagree). So what is needed now? Massive Tobacco had 5 glorious decades of unregulated profit just before being managed by addressing the “3As”: affordability (taxes and value rises), acceptability (marketing and advertising bans and warning labels), and availability (licensing and smoke-cost-free legislation). These are probably transferable to junk food or sugary drinks.

Campaigners have urged the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to impose a sugary drinks duty, a advertising and marketing ban, mandatory site visitors light labelling, and progressive sugar and saturated fat reductions in junk meals. They also want him to lessen portion sizes, finish market sports activities sponsorship and set up an independent food policy institute.

Hunt, a gifted and ambitious politician, is caught among the rock-like Scylla of market lobbyists and the Charybdis whirlpool of public view, which now supports sugar regulation. My funds is on the whirlpool.

Finish this sugar rush it is the only way to tackle the weight problems crisis | Simon Capewell