Industry urged to back Scots' fight vs mental health issues

The food industry can help tackle consumers' mental health alongside dietary habits as it directs them towards healthier lifestyles, according to Scotland's deputy chief medical officer professor Peter Donnelly.

Speaking at the Scottish Food and Drink Federation's Symposium in Dundee, professor Donnelly said poor mental health contributed to binge-drinking and unhealthy eating and, consequently, obesity. "How we feel very much alters how, when and what we eat."

Equally, he said, excess drinking or eating too many foods high in fat, sugar or salt could have a negative impact on mental health.

He suggested that the food industry should try to ensure that nutritionally poor products were not marketed as a route to happiness.

"You could also ensure nutritionally beneficial products are promoted as good for mental as well as physical health."

However, he stopped short of recommending specific legislative controls to ensure food industry advertising operated along these lines.

Donnelly said he was encouraged by the progress Scotland had made in terms of healthy eating and drinking. There was more of a sense of "collective ownership" of tackling issues such as healthy eating, with the food industry working more closely with government, pressure groups and trade bodies.

He cited Scotland's ongoing Healthy Living campaign as an example of this collaboration.

There was reason for considerable optimism regarding health issues, he said as the smoking ban, imposed in Scotland in March 2006, showed that "nothing was off-limits"

He added: "I believe it is now possible to make really big, important legislative changes in terms of health."

Collaborative work and the smoking ban had had a profound effect on health in Scotland, he claimed. "We have seen an astounding fall in rates of death from heart disease and strokes."

Excessive alcohol consumption and obesity now topped the list as Scotland's next biggest health issues, he suggested.

More efforts to produce health-enhancing products could boost work to improve health north of the border and the promotion of locally grown fresh produce, could also help, he added.