The United Kingdom has been chosen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to lead a new Sugar and Calorie Reduction Network to take global action on sugar and calorie reduction.

The decision on formation of the network, which will work with countries across Europe to reduce sugar and calorie intake, was taken at the WHO Regional Committee for Europe today.

The WHO’s EU region covers around 50 countries, with a much wider reach than the European Commission’s remit.

The UK has agreed to use its world-leading expertise in domestic sugar and calorie reduction to support its European neighbours. Work will take place with the food and drink industry to make their products healthier by reducing sugar content in products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), helping to tackle global rates of obesity.

The network will support the UK government’s key existing commitments to the sugar and calorie reduction programmes and to take tackling obesity onto the global stage as part of its Tackling Obesity strategy, published last year.

These programmes challenge the food industry across the UK to reduce the sugar and calorie in foods most commonly consumed by children. The UK has seen good progress with its sugar reduction programme – with sugar reduced by 13% in breakfast cereals, yogurts and fromage frais.

"Evidence suggests that people living with obesity are at greater risk of being seriously ill and dying from Covid-19. By taking action to reduce sugar and calories in food and drink, the network will not only address rising rates of global obesity, but increase global resilience both to Covid-19 and future pandemics," noted UK's Department of Health and Social Care.

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