A cross-party parliamentary committee has issued a critical assessment of the government’s obesity strategy, concluding that current efforts are insufficient to achieve stated goals. The health and social care select committee found that over a year after the government committed to addressing obesity within a decade, fundamental questions about measurement and implementation remain unresolved.
According to the most recent official statistics, 30% of adults in England live with obesity, while 66% are either overweight or living with obesity. Approximately a third of children are estimated to be overweight or living with obesity. The committee noted that while obesity rates have leveled off since rising significantly since the 1990s, there are no indications of decline.
The MPs identified several critical gaps in the current approach. They highlighted a lack of distinction between prevention efforts, such as restricting unhealthy food marketing, and treatment support for those already affected by obesity. The committee argued that conflating these strategies has contributed to muddled government thinking and limited progress across successive administrations.
To address these shortcomings, the committee recommended establishing a dedicated cabinet committee on obesity chaired by the prime minister to drive coordinated action and demonstrate governmental commitment. The committee called for a comprehensive cross-government action plan detailing departmental responsibilities, specific actions, and funding mechanisms covering both prevention and treatment for adults and children. Ministers were instructed to present this plan to parliament within three months.
The government responded by highlighting existing measures, including restrictions on junk food advertising before 9pm and online, bans on volume-price promotions for less healthy products, and expanded access to weight management support and NHS weight-loss drugs for those meeting clinical criteria.
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