Most UK TV ads for sweets and snacks shown before children’s viewing watershed

Most TV adverts for sweets, crisps and chocolate shown when children are likely to be watching are placed by firms who claim not to promote their products to that age group.The disclosure, in new research by the University of Liverpool, has prompted claims that food giants such as Mars, Haribo and PepsiCo are in “flagrant” breach of their own codes of behaviour.The academics found that 80% of all ads for confectionery and snacks shown on UK TV before the 9pm children’s viewing watershed were from those three firms, plus Kellogg’s and Mondelez.Their analysis of ads shown on 76 channels also revealed that 49% of all such ads are broadcast between 5.30am and 9pm, when viewing by children is at its highest

Why have diabetes rates doubled over the past 30 years – and what can be done about it?

Diabetes rates worldwide have more than doubled over the past three decades, with more than half of cases untreated, a global study has found.Diabetes is a chronic disease caused when the pancreas does not produce enough (or any) insulin (a hormone that regulates blood glucose) or the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, which over time can cause serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder which stops the body using insulin properly

More than 800 million people around the world have diabetes, study finds

The number of people with diabetes has doubled over the past 30 years to more than 800 million worldwide, according to a groundbreaking international study.Global analysis published in the Lancet found that rates of diabetes in adults doubled from about 7% to about 14% between 1990 to 2022, with the largest increase in low and middle-income countries.The study is the first global analysis of diabetes rates and treatment in all countries. Scientists at NCD-RisC in collaboration with the World Health Organization used data from more than 140 million people aged 18 or older from more than 1,000 studies in different countries. They applied statistical tools to enable accurate comparisons of prevalence and treatment between countries and regions

Legalisation of assisted dying may force NHS cuts, Wes Streeting warns

Civil servants are looking at the extra costs that assisted dying would impose on the NHS amid a warning from Wes Streeting that some services may be cut to fund expanded end-of-life care.The health secretary has asked officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to analyse potential implications for NHS services if the right to die is legalised in England and Wales.Their work is under way amid an increasing focus on how the NHS would cope with helping what the MP spearheading the push for assisted dying believes would be hundreds of people a year who have just six months or less to live to end their life early.DHSC officials have already begun examining the costs of the practicalities involved, which could include expanding the services provided by hospitals or district nurses, for example.The disclosure comes after Streeting made clear his view that legalisation could force the health service to make difficult decisions about funding some existing services

UK equality watchdog chair at centre of staff complaints to be given new term

The chair of the government’s equality watchdog, who was appointed by Liz Truss and investigated after a series of complaints by staff members, has been given a 12-month extension in the role, ministers have announced.The decision to reappoint Kishwer Falkner as chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), first revealed by the Guardian, has left some staff members angry after they had hoped a Labour government might change the organisation’s leadership.However, the announcement by the government’s Office for Equality and Opportunity said it was looking for a new chair, with a successor expected to be announced next year. It is understood that the extension was given largely because of the lack of time to find a replacement before her four-year term finishes at the end of this year.News that Lady Falkner would stay on in the role had dismayed some staff at the EHRC following a sometimes turbulent period in which she grappled with internal debates over transgender policy and was investigated over a series of complaints from current and past staff

Liz Kendall says there is ‘no tension’ in government over winter fuel payments

Liz Kendall has said she sees “no tension” in government over plans to make savings from restricting winter fuel payments to vulnerable pensioners and an increase in people securing pension credit.The work and pensions secretary stressed she wanted all people eligible for pension credit to have the benefit, regardless of whether it could limit the government’s attempt to repair the “dire state” of public finances.Ministers launched a pension credit publicity campaign in August, yet Kendall told the Commons work and pensions select committee 800,000 eligible pensioners had still not applied for it.Winter fuel payments have been restricted so only those claiming pension credit from this winter are eligible to receive the benefit worth up to £300.The government made the decision in the hope of saving £1