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Comment and Health

Low-calorie pizza and burgers won’t fix our child obesity crisis

By Tom Sanders

21 August 2017

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Cutting the calories in junk food fails to address the cause of obesity – poor eating habits

Delia Truta/EyeEm/Getty

Officials charged with keeping the nation in good shape have said they want to cut calories in pizzas, burgers and ready meals to help tackle child obesity in England.

The food industry welcomed the guidance, from Public Health England (PHE), possibly because it can make more money from selling smaller portions with fewer calories. But the response from scientists and consumer groups has been lukewarm.

Why act now? There is a growing call for regulation, including limiting the number of takeaway…

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