Healthier Foods and Sugar Reduction Declaration

We're proud to have signed the Healthier Foods and Sugar Reduction Declaration (PDF).

The initiative encourages local authorities to commit to improve the availability of healthier foods, and reduce accessibility and marketing of unhealthy food and drinks.

As part of the declaration, we pledge to:

• work to restrict advertising of unhealthy food and drinks
• raise awareness of healthy eating
• improve food controlled or influenced by us (like the food offer at our events)
• help local businesses and organisations improve their food offer

The below video shows Councillor Clare Coghill and Councillor Naheed Asghar signing the Sustain Declaration on Sugar Reduction and Healthier Eating: 

In Waltham Forest:

• 58.6% of adults in are estimated to be overweight or obese
• 40% of pupils aged 10-11 years are either overweight or obese (according to National Child Measurement Programme results)

We are committed to tackling and preventing obesity.

In a recent Great Weight Debate survey, residents said that increasing access to healthier food would help to address the obesity issue.

We were one of the first boroughs to restrict fast food outlets near schools and youth centres. We have also worked to implement healthier vending machines in our leisure centres, and launched the Healthier Catering Commitment Award scheme for businesses in the borough. 

Signing the Declaration demonstrates our commitment to increasing the availability of healthier food options and raise awareness of sugary foods and drinks.

However, we cannot achieve this alone so we are asking residents, businesses and organisations to get involved. Together, we can raise awareness of the importance of healthy eating and cutting down sugar in our diet.

If you are a business, sign up to the Healthier Catering Commitment Award.

If you are a resident, take a look at the related links section to see how you can get healthier.