Obesity Now Second Only to Tobacco as Leading Health Risk in England, Select Committee Urges Government Action
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
The House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee has released a report urging the Government to take decisive action to overhaul the UK's food system in an effort to tackle the escalating obesity crisis. According to the report, titled Recipe for Health: A Plan to Fix Our Broken Food System, the country requires a comprehensive and integrated strategy, supported by new legislation, to address the root causes of unhealthy diets and rising obesity rates. The Committee emphasizes that there is no single solution to this problem but insists that a coordinated approach is necessary to improve public health.
The report outlines several key recommendations for the Government to consider. These include making it mandatory for large food businesses to report on the healthiness of their sales and excluding companies that derive significant revenue from unhealthy products from influencing policy discussions on diet and obesity prevention. Additionally, the Committee suggests that the Food Standards Agency be given independent oversight of the food system to ensure accountability.
One of the most significant recommendations is the introduction of a tax on salt and sugar reformulation for food manufacturers, modeled after the successful Soft Drinks Industry Levy. The revenue from this tax could be used to make healthier food options more affordable, particularly for those experiencing food insecurity. The report also calls for a comprehensive ban on advertising unhealthy foods across all media platforms by the end of the current Parliament, building on the upcoming 9pm watershed and the ban on paid-for online advertising set for October 2025.
Further research into the effects of ultra-processed foods is another priority outlined by the Committee. While current studies indicate a link between high consumption of these foods and adverse health outcomes, more research is needed to establish direct causal relationships. The report underscores the urgency of understanding these connections to update dietary guidelines accordingly.
The Committee also highlights the importance of focusing on maternal and infant nutrition and improving compliance with school food standards. Addressing these areas is seen as critical to breaking the cycle where children with obesity are five times more likely to become obese adults. In addition, the Committee recommends automatic enrollment in the Healthy Start program and free school meals to support families living in poverty, alongside a review of expanding funding and eligibility for these initiatives.
The report paints a concerning picture of the current state of public health in the UK, noting that two-thirds of adults are overweight and nearly a third are living with obesity. It emphasizes that after tobacco, diet-related risks are now the leading contributor to years of life lost. The Committee points out that, despite nearly 700 policies introduced between 1992 and 2020 to address obesity, rates have continued to climb. According to the report, voluntary measures have not succeeded in encouraging the food industry to produce healthier options, making mandatory regulation a necessity.
Baroness Walmsley, Chair of the Committee, stated, “Over the last 30 years successive governments have failed to reduce obesity rates, despite hundreds of policy initiatives. This failure is largely due to policies that focused on personal choice and responsibility out of misguided fears of the ‘nanny state’. Both the Government and the food industry must take responsibility for what has gone wrong and take urgent steps to put it right.” She further expressed hope that the recent comments from key government figures indicate a willingness to shift towards a preventive approach in addressing the nation’s health crisis.
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