The impact of poor diet on poor health due to rising levels of obesity and diet related illnesses is a major concern to doctors. UPFs (ultra-processed foods) have gained significant public and political interest due to their associations with poor health outcomes and the high consumption rates within the UK, particularly by children and young people.

Key findings

The BMA is calling for UK Government to:

• Implement without further delay effective regulation and policies. The UK has suffered from a succession of voluntary policies alongside delayed and weakened regulation. This needs to change and promising pledges to address obesity made in the recent 10 Year Health Plan for England must be acted on without delay.
• Increase industry accountability and reduce industry influence. Remove the focus on individual responsibility and strengthen the regulation of industry to reduce their influence over high consumption of unhealthy food.
• Reduce the high levels of UPF consumed by children and young people through introducing regulation to ensure schools have to offer more whole and minimally processed foods and stricter regulation of commercial baby and toddler food that is ultra-processed and HFSS with mandatory measures for manufacturers.
• Improve access and affordability of healthy food. Ensure everyone, including those from lower income groups, has access to healthier, whole and minimally processed foods.
• Invest in stronger research on UPFs to enhance existing policy design. Research with strong methodologies that can identify the exact causes of poor health outcomes associated with food processing is needed to inform government regulation of UPF.
• Improve public awareness of what healthy diets look like and what UPFs are particularly unhealthy. Alongside improved regulation, clear and accessible guidance for the public is needed, in addition to a well-resourced and supported health workforce to meet increased demand for information and treatment.