Public acceptance of obesity prevention policies in the UK

Half of the UK population will get cancer during their lifetime, with the current survival rate at 50 %. Behavioural factors such as obesity contribute to two-fifths of the UK's most common cancers. Food 'pricing' and 'place and promotion' policies aim to avert this risk by reducing the rate of obesity in the UK.

A cross-sectional survey collected data on the acceptance of obesity-related pricing and place and promotion policies from 3293 UK adults in 2016. Cross-tabulations and chi-squared tests were performed to investigate the support for these policies in the four UK countries and different socioeconomic groups.

Only two-fifths of respondents supported all policies. Food place and promotion policies were better supported by the public than taxation, with over 70 % support for the promotion of healthy foods as opposed to 40 % support for 'fat tax'. The most deprived social groups were least supportive of all policies. There was not a noticeable difference in policy support between the four UK countries.

The support for obesity policies is low, most notably amongst lower socioeconomic groups and for policies involving a price increase, across the UK.

Obesity prevention policies could reduce the rate of related cancers, but their success requires public support and acceptance. Increasing tax on unhealthy foods is less well supported in the UK population than policies which affect the in-store placement and promotion of these products. Lower levels of support for all these policies among low-income groups, among whom obesity and cancer rates are highest, indicate a particular need for strategies to increase policy support in these groups.