{"id":20160,"date":"2025-09-09T21:17:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-09T21:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=20160"},"modified":"2025-09-09T21:17:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T21:17:23","slug":"the-guardian-view-on-public-health-if-labour-is-serious-about-reducing-illness-it-must-focus-on-causes-editorial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/?p=20160","title":{"rendered":"The Guardian view on public health: if Labour is serious about reducing illness, it must focus on causes | Editorial"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Dramatic increases in life expectancy are one of the defining achievements of the modern era. From 56\u00a0years for men and 60 for women in the UK a century ago, this vital measure of the quantity of life rose to 79 and 83 respectively in 2022. The trend towards increased longevity is global, although not all\u00a0countries\u00a0have seen gains on the same scale, and the\u00a0pandemic sent it into temporary reverse.<\/p>\n

We probably don\u2019t talk about this enough. It is remarkable that most of us can expect to live for so long\u00a0and that deaths from diseases such as tuberculosis, and of women in childbirth, have been\u00a0so\u00a0drastically reduced.<\/p>\n

Quality of life is a different matter. Estimates of healthy life expectancy \u2013 the number of years during\u00a0which people are in good health \u2013 are less reliable and\u00a0more subjective than data based on deaths.\u00a0But chronic and long-term illnesses have become more prevalent in the UK (and other western countries) as overall life expectancy has risen. Recent years have also seen highly troubling rises in health inequalities, including infant mortality and obesity. Last week, two\u00a0thinktanks warned of worsening mortality rates across all four UK nations compared with other high\u2011income countries.<\/p>\n

For the UK government, which shares responsibility\u00a0for health with the devolved administrations, the challenge is to reduce the toll of illness and disability so that more people live well for\u00a0longer. If they are to succeed, finding ways to prevent as well as cure diseases is crucial. This shift\u00a0is one of three big themes of Labour\u2019s health policy. So it is alarming that, just two months after the launch of his 10-year plan, Wes Streeting is facing criticism from experts.<\/p>\n

In particular, the heads of the King\u2019s Fund and Health Foundation are concerned that lobbying by the food, alcohol and tobacco industries have led to restrictions on junk food and alcohol advertising being watered down \u2013 as happened under the Conservatives. They warn that if rising levels of alcohol- and diet-related diseases are to be tackled, and pressure on the NHS eased, there is no alternative to regulatory measures such as a minimum unit price for alcohol, and a renewed focus on child poverty.<\/p>\n

Mr Streeting, when Labour was in opposition, pledged to use a \u201csteamroller\u201d to force food firms to cut fat, salt and sugar from their products. The danger now is that the government\u2019s fixation on economic growth, combined with anxiety about the populist right, has made it too timid to risk annoying businesses \u2013 or to give ammunition to libertarian critics who would attack it for restricting\u00a0people\u2019s choices.<\/p>\n

On high-caffeine energy drinks, ministers are doing the right thing by banning their sale to under\u201116s. New rules about junk food advertising will be an improvement. But these are limited measures when what is needed is an ambitious overview of the social determinants of worsening public health, including the rise of deep poverty, and the myriad ways in which people of all ages are nudged towards unhealthy behaviours.<\/p>\n

This is a task for the whole government, not just the health secretary. Councils, businesses and regulators all have roles to play in what Labour ought to regard as a national improvement project. Health policy is not just about treatment. It\u2019s about power, profit and having the political will to act.<\/p>\n