UK government’s obesity plan ‘doomed to fail’, MPs warn
Summary
A cross-party committee of UK MPs says the government’s goal of reversing rising obesity rates within a decade is unlikely to succeed without a major rethink and leadership from the prime minister. It called for a funded, cross-government plan with clear targets covering both prevention and treatment.Key Facts
- The Health and Social Care Committee said basic details, including how progress will be measured, remain unanswered more than a year after the goal was announced.
- The committee called for a cabinet committee on obesity chaired by the prime minister.
- MPs said ministers should present a cross-government action plan to Parliament within three months.
- The committee said the plan should distinguish preventing future obesity from supporting and treating people who already have obesity.
- Official statistics cited in the report say 30% of adults in England live with obesity and 66% are overweight or live with obesity.
- Close to a third of children in England are estimated to be overweight or living with obesity.
- Committee chair Layla Moran said an effective plan should address unhealthy food advertising, product labels, supermarket sales targets and fast-food outlets near schools.
- The Department of Health and Social Care said the government has restricted some junk-food advertising and promotions and given councils stronger powers over new hot-food takeaways near schools.
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