Obesity Action Scotland said 170 experts had signed its petition demanding no deals with unhealthy food and drink companies at next year’s Games.
Glasgow will host the Commonwealth Games in 2026(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Junk food sponsorship deals should be banned at next year’s Commonwealth Games, health campaigners have urged.
Obesity Action Scotland said more than 170 individuals and groups had signed its petition demanding the change at the 2026 Games in Glasgow amid “alarming” childhood obesity rates.
Twenty per cent of Scottish kids are now at risk of being overweight by the time they enter primary one.
The group, which is led by clinicians, said allowing high fat, sugar and salt products to be marketed at sporting events “undermined” public health and risked worsening the obesity crisis.
Irn-Bru was the chief drinks sponsor at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Irn-Bru sponsored the 2014 Commonwealth Games(Image: SWNS)
Writing to Commonwealth Games 2026 CEO Phil Batty, Dr Shoba John, head of OAS and convener of the Scottish Obesity Alliance, called on next year’s event to be a “junk-food free event” for families.
She said: “There is overwhelming evidence that advertising and marketing techniques powerfully influence food preference, choice, and consumption in children, thus harming their health.
“We also know that the wider food environment heavily influences what people consume.
“When food marketing and the wider food environment lead us towards increased consumption of soft drinks and junk food, we see corresponding increases in obesity rates.
“Therefore, we need healthy food and drink to be available and affordable, and for it to be front and centre at every opportunity.”
Dr John commended the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which Mr Batty was also involved in, for ditching junk food sponsors and urged Glasgow to follow suit.
She also called for unhealthy food and drinks outlets to be prohibited at or near sporting venues.
It follows controversial sponsorship deals at the 2012 London Olympics with brands like McDonald’s and Coca Cola.
As part of its promotion at the event, McDonald’s launched its biggest ever restaurant in the heart of the Olympic village, prompting fury from health campaigners.
An employee serves a customer in the McDonald’s restaurant in London’s Olympic village in 2012(Image: Getty Images)
Latest research shows young Scots from the most deprived parts of the country have double the risk of experiencing obesity than those living in the most affluent areas.
Last week, the Food Standards Scotland agency said ministers’ efforts to tackle the nation’s weight problem was “too slow and not far-reaching enough”.
It warned public health had been “taking a back seat to commercial interests” and said Scotland was “lagging behind” other parts of the UK in measures to tackle junk food.
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Scots face some of the poorest diet-related health outcomes in Europe including obesity, type 2 diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “Ensuring everyone in Scotland eats well, has a healthy weight and is physically active is a key priority for the Scottish Government ‘s public health agenda.
“As a part of this action, we are restricting the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar.”
Phil Batty, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, said: “Sporting events play an important role in promoting active and healthy lifestyles.
“We met with Obesity Action Scotland and representatives of the NCD Alliance Scotland last month and we look forward to working with them to build shared plans for the Games next summer.”