"Ronaldo doesn’t eat Big Macs"

A better way of looking at junk food and society

It is a well known fact that Juventus and Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo employs his own chef. Every meal is calibrated to ensure the right amount of protein, carbohydrates and nutrients so that one of the greatest footballers that has ever lived is able to play to his maximum ability and deliver the goals, trophies and titles that his employers demand. As such, excess sugar and junk food do not enter the equation. You are what you eat and a top athlete cannot perform without the right fuel.

At the same time that Ronaldo’s athletic frame is gracing stadiums and TV screens across the globe, obesity is an increasing problem: particularly among the young.

The rise of obesity and the reaction of governments

WHO statistics show that over 50% of men and women in Europe are overweight, while 23% of women and 20% of men are obese. Childhood obesity is rising too and WHO figures show that one in three 11-year-olds are obese in Europe. This alarming statistics are strongly linked to illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, as well as poor mental well-being and underachievement at school and work.

The reaction from politicians has been regulation. A sugar tax was introduced in the UK in April 2018 while Hungary and Mexico launched their taxes in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Denmark introduced a “fat tax” in 2011 on food items with more than 2.3% saturated fat, and had plans to extend this to a sugar tax over time. The results were terrible: less than 10% of Danes reduced their fat intake while hundreds of jobs were lost as Danes headed to Germany to buy their products. This mess led to the “fat tax” being abandoned after 15 months and the sugar tax being shelved indefinitely.

While tackling obesity is a big and important issue, legislation and increased taxation are not the answer. In the same way that many of the most corrupt countries on earth have the strictest anti-corruption laws, legislation is no guarantee of a positive effect and a change in human behaviour. Very often this means that the consumers of fatty and sugary products - often people on low incomes - continue to consume them, but pay more for the “privilege.”

At the heart of addressing childhood obesity lie education, personal choice and leading by example.

A better approach: beyond the nanny state

Firstly, education. Almost everything in moderation is ok: whether that is a Big Mac, a fizzy drink or a green apple. Eating junk food on a daily basis and avoiding fruit and vegetables is not good but we should not make people feel guilty about an occasional bar of chocolate, for example. The risk of provoking eating disorders - already on the rise in Europe - is equal to the threat from obesity. We need to tread very carefully.

Secondly, we should not forget personal choice. We need to take responsibility for our own lives and say “no” to unhealthy options. We only get one body and it is in our interests to look after it. We do this by giving it the right mix of the best fuels - combined with regular exercise and sufficient sleep - not filling it up with rubbish. No politician, tax or campaigner should have to decide for us.

Setting a good example is also key. Whether this is parents, teachers or Cristiano Ronaldo, people learn by copying behaviour rather than by being told what to do. There is a reason why “influencers” on social media are so popular and paid so much. People like to copy behaviour and the lifestyles of people they aspire to be. Therefore setting a good example is very important. And if you can’t be a good example then you may be a terrible warning!