A quarter of the 5-year-old children in Bristol, England, have tooth decay, according to the city’s government. Meanwhile, 57% of its adults are overweight, and 20,000 people there have diabetes. To improve the lives of its residents, the Bristol City Council is working with the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, the Bristol Sport Foundation, the University West of England (UWE), and other local groups to become more “Sugar Smart.”
The Sugar Smart program will be designed to help people recognize how much sugar is in the food they eat. Fans at a pair of professional rugby matches last weekend saw its launch with a pair of videos played on the Ashton Gate stadium’s big screens during the games. The videos included players discussing how they were getting involved. The Bristol Sport Foundation’s participation won’t end there, though.
“The Bristol Sport Foundation will deliver health and well-being programs in schools throughout Bristol and help to promote and champion healthy lifestyle choices with our corporate partners in the Lansdown Club, our group of sports, and at the stadium itself,” said Ben Breeze, chief community officer of the Bristol Sport Foundation.
“Rising obesity levels and dental problems are 2 major contributing factors to health inequities in Bristol, and we know that eating too much sugar plays a major role in this. Throughout the year, we’re going to be partnering with a wide range of different organizations as we can make a greater impact by working together,” said Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol.
Pediatric oral health remains a challenge in England. The Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 municipal councils in England and Wales, recently reported that children and teenagers endure 161 extractions due to tooth decay each working day, with a total of 40,800 procedures in 2015 and 2016 with a total cost to the National Health Service of £35.6 million, or $43.3 million.
“Having organizations such as Bristol Sport and UWE Bristol on board will help us to reach different people, and it is essential that the whole of Bristol benefits from this. If we can improve our health, we can become more resilient whilst also reducing the pressure on public purses,” said Rees.
UWE Bristol, for example, will highlight healthier alternatives to high-sugar products to maintain steady energy levels during exams. The Redcliffe Children’s Centre and Nursery will champion healthy eating for families and children. The Square Food Foundation will ramp up its efforts in teaching people how to cook from scratch instead of relying on prepackaged, processed, sugar-heavy foods.
Plus, the Sugar Smart program will focus on reducing sugar consumption in schools, promoting healthy vending choices, launching Sugar Smart workplaces—such as the city’s 2 hospitals, whose trusts will promote Sugar Smart among their 17,000 employees—and launching a food award for restaurants and take-out vendors that commit to making positive changes.
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