By Ahmed Abdelsalam
A cross-party committee of MPs has warned that the UK government’s pledge to reverse rising obesity rates within a decade is “doomed to fail” unless the prime minister takes personal charge of a new, joined-up strategy.
Committee warns of failure without PM leadership
The health and social care select committee said there are no signs the so-called “moonshot ambition on obesity” set out in England’s 10-year health plan will achieve anything significant. More than a year after the promise to “end the obesity epidemic” was made, basic questions on measuring progress and coordinating departments remain unanswered.
The report states the government will fail to tackle the challenge unless action is led from the top and delivery becomes a clear, personal priority of the prime minister. It calls for a dedicated cabinet committee on obesity, chaired by the prime minister, to drive action and signal seriousness.
Statistics highlight scale of problem
According to the latest official figures, 30% of adults in England are living with obesity, while 66% are either overweight or living with obesity. Close to a third of children are estimated to be overweight or living with obesity. Rates have risen significantly since the 1990s and, although trends have levelled off, there is no sign of a decline.
Call for cross-government action
The MPs criticise the current strategy for conflating prevention of future obesity with treatment for those already affected, leading to muddled thinking. They demand a clear definition of what reducing obesity means in practice, interim progress markers, and a joined-up, cross-government action plan covering prevention and treatment for adults and children, with funding details.
Ministers should come to parliament within three months to set out the plan, the report says. Committee chair Layla Moran, a Liberal Democrat MP, said an effective plan will require standing up to the food industry on advertising, labelling, supermarket targets and fast-food outlets near schools.
Government responds
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said obesity is one of the biggest challenges facing the health service and the government is taking bold action to shift from sickness to prevention. Measures already taken include restricting junk food advertising before 9pm and online, banning volume-price promotions on less healthy products, and giving councils stronger powers to block new hot-food takeaways near schools. The government is also expanding access to weight management support, including NHS weight-loss drugs for those with the greatest clinical need.
