Obesity Strategy 2020

Questions the effectiveness of the current measures proposed in the strategy, noting a lack of clear targets for reducing obesity among adults. He raises concerns about the regulatory impact, suggesting that calorie labelling may only reduce consumption by an apple's worth at best and an eighth of one at worst, questioning whether these measures justify their costs.

Advocates for engaging directly with businesses ahead of regulatory implementation to address concerns. Questions the impact assessment of proposed regulations on calorie labelling and online promotions, suggesting that even significant measures might only reduce daily caloric intake by as little as three calories per child.

Obesity is a growing problem with significant impacts on public health, particularly affecting poorer communities. Alex Norris supports measures such as the 9 pm watershed for unhealthy food adverts, restrictions on retailer promotions, and expansion of NHS weight management services. However, he raises concerns about the online advertising ban, retail restrictions qualifications, and the impact of calorie labelling on individuals with eating disorders.

Asked Alex Norris to clarify his philosophical standpoint regarding the Government's responsibility in managing obesity. Richard Fuller questioned whether Norris views obesity management at the same level as tobacco control or alcohol regulation, seeking to understand the basis for state intervention.

Calls for addressing obesity with sensitivity but acknowledges the urgency of the issue, citing a Department of Health and Social Care report estimating medical and productivity costs related to obesity at around £60 billion. Emphasises the need to prevent obesity to help reduce pressure on the NHS. Supports actions such as limiting junk food advertising online and across various media platforms, curbing sponsorship of sports events by junk food companies, and promoting healthier food options in supermarkets, schools, and out-of-home settings. Advocates for reformulating products with less sugar, rewarding GPs for collecting BMI data and offering diet and exercise programmes, and enforcing school food standards to improve child health.

Thewliss emphasised the need for evidence-based weight management and changes to the obesogenic environment. She highlighted liver disease, stating that it is the third leading cause of premature death in the UK with deaths increasing by 400% over two generations. Thewliss also mentioned her husband's experience with non-alcohol related fatty liver disease and his journey towards recovery through lifestyle changes. She urged the UK Government to take action on spreading information about liver disease prevention and reversing stage 2 cases. Furthermore, she discussed Scottish government initiatives such as diet and healthy weight delivery plans, active Scotland programme, free school breakfasts, lunch provision, and measures to restrict promotions on unhealthy food and drinks. Thewliss also touched upon the importance of breastfeeding for infant health and criticised the UK Government's lack of support in this area.

Obesity is clearly a huge challenge facing our country, and one that absolutely should not be ignored. However, the state is overreaching in some of its proposals for foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. These include products like butter, granola, porridge oats, muesli, and protein bars, which are not marketed to children but still treated as junk food. This approach undermines breakfast cereals that support British farmers by buying their oats at a premium price. Moreover, TV advertising restrictions could cost broadcasters £200 million due to online content trends, and the 9 pm watershed is ineffective with only reducing calorie intake among children by 1.7 calories per day. We need fairer solutions promoting personal responsibility.

The Government's obesity strategy is necessary due to one in four primary school children entering overweight or obese, and one-third leaving the same way after six years. Prevention measures are important but not enough without proper treatment services for obese children, which are currently insufficient. The Health and Social Care Committee recommended robust systems to identify and help these children through a multidisciplinary approach. Shine Health Academy provides such services in his constituency funded mainly by charities due to lack of funding from clinical commissioning groups or local authorities. CREW clinics manage comorbidities but are limited; the Obesity Health Alliance calculates there are 450,000 children eligible for bariatric surgery if they were adults.

Obesity rates are too high with long-term consequences including diseases such as dementia and heart disease. The complexity of the causes requires clear understanding to have a real impact on diet, knowledge about food products, availability of fresh vegetables, cooking skills, education in schools and among parents, lifestyle changes through exercise, eating disorders, and displacement of advertising from TV to online platforms which is harder to regulate. He asks the Minister to engage with the industry to find solutions that support Government's aims while addressing these complexities.

I speak today as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on eating disorders and I want to highlight the anxiety felt by many of those with an eating disorder about one specific aspect of the obesity strategy: calorie labelling on menus. Obesity causes serious health problems and there is no doubt that far too many people in this country do not have a healthy weight. However, it cannot be separated from other forms of disordered eating and cannot be dealt with in isolation. Calorie labelling will damage those with an eating disorder. Studies show only limited evidence supporting calorie counts on menus leading to a reduction in calories purchased, but there is convincing evidence that it would harm people with an eating disorder. About 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder and over the pandemic the charity Beat has reported a significant increase in demand for support. Individuals with anorexia or bulimia are more likely to order food with fewer calories when presented with calorie counts, while those with binge eating disorder are more likely to order food with significantly more calories. Up to 30% of people seeking weight management services would meet the diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder. Clearly, a reductionist approach means that the obesity strategy risks harming some of the very people it is designed to support.

I very much support the Government’s objective but I am sympathetic to the point made about calorie labelling in restaurants and its potential harm to those with eating disorders. We need to enable people to understand whether they are overweight or obese, make them understand the health consequences of being overweight or obese, and want to be healthier themselves. It is about having a healthy diet rather than going on a diet, making small changes that people stick to such as reducing portion sizes. I do not find any compelling evidence in the impact assessment that introducing out-of-home calorie labelling would have any significant impact on the quantity of calories consumed or successfully help reduce obesity rates. Therefore, the Government ought to think again about their approach.

I am speaking about alcohol labelling which is an important aspect of supporting a healthier British public. We are in the situation where non-alcoholic products must provide calorie content, nutritional information and more, but alcoholic products only need to list allergens, percentage of alcohol by volume and amount of liquid in the container. I am pleased that the Minister is pushing ahead with the consultation on alcohol labelling and hope it will start soon. We have had the highest rate of deaths from alcohol this year when drug and alcohol services are underfunded and mental health services are overstretched. Therefore, I suggest pulling together all work including the obesity strategy, Dame Carol Black’s review of drugs, a consultation on alcohol labelling, a review of the Gambling Act 2005, and a promised addiction strategy from 2019 to focus on issues such as mental health and poverty which drive addiction in the months and years ahead.

While welcoming many aspects of the Government’s obesity strategy, Jonathan Lord argues against proposed restrictions on TV and online advertising for high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods. He contends that these measures will have minimal impact (only a 4.5 daily calorie reduction among overweight children), compared to initiatives like The Daily Mile or community-based programmes such as HENRY in Leeds. Lord highlights adverse impacts on the broadcasting industry and food companies due to reduced advertising revenue, job losses, and stifled investment in healthier alternatives. He cites Quebec's ineffective ban from 1980 that did not curb obesity rates but led to a 140% increase over 15 years compared to other Canadian provinces.

Olivia Blake supports measures for healthy eating habits, emphasising the importance of addressing mental health alongside obesity. She expresses concerns about the strategy's inadequacy in providing social and mental health support to those with weight management conditions like diabetes or heart disease, highlighting a 32% increase in hospital admissions for eating disorders before the pandemic and an alarming rise in demand for services post-pandemic without corresponding funding increases. Blake warns that calorie labelling on menus could exacerbate unhealthy relationships with food among individuals with eating disorders.

Jim Shannon, a type 2 diabetic himself, acknowledges the importance of self-control and support in managing obesity. He discusses personal experience with weight loss post-diagnosis and emphasises that judgment should not be placed on individuals struggling with obesity. Shannon also highlights the need for reassurance that people will not be judged, as this can lead to resentment and failure in addressing obesity issues.

Congratulates Andrew Selous on securing the debate. Emphasises the need for an urgent strategy to address obesity, particularly among children in deprived areas. Argues against a TV and digital advertising ban due to its unintended consequences and minimal impact. Advocates for investment in education regarding nutrition and healthy eating habits.

Supports the concept of an obesity strategy but criticises specific proposals such as restricting food promotions and banning ads before 9 pm, arguing they undermine personal freedom and may not be effective. Stresses the importance of education over regulatory measures.

Highlights the impact of obesity on children's health and the need for better nutrition education in schools. Advocates for a revival of home economics to teach cooking skills. Supports government efforts to promote healthier food systems but calls for more community involvement and parental responsibility.

Welcomed the opportunity to contribute to a debate about tackling obesity. Acknowledged the need for decisive and urgent action by the Government, highlighting regional and community variations in obesity linked to structural inequalities. Supported measures such as restricting retail promotions of unhealthy food and drinks, banning junk food adverts before 9 pm, and investing in early years initiatives like Healthy Start payments and school holiday clubs. Emphasised the role of education in teaching about nutrition and cooking skills.

Expressed concern over a top-down approach to tackling obesity, criticising the policy for treating adults like children and targeting those who are poor, ethnic minorities, and elderly. Highlighted worries about evidentiary base, implementation haste, impact on businesses, bluntness of measures, unintended consequences for people with eating disorders, social credit system implications, and anxiety post-covid.

Discussed the importance of helping people achieve a healthy weight, highlighting increasing obesity trends among children. Welcomed calorie labelling on menus to empower individuals in making informed decisions when eating out, noting it can reduce calorie consumption by about 8%. Highlighted concerns regarding artificial sweeteners and emphasised the role of education in instilling healthy habits.

The debate has highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle obesity. It is imperative that the Minister addresses concerns raised about mental health services, alcohol labelling, and eating disorders. There was emphasis on scratch cooking as an effective measure, along with education programmes and public opinion favouring intervention measures. Free choice arguments were challenged due to disproportionate occurrence of obesity in certain areas.

Called for Members to leave the Chamber in a covid-friendly manner following the opening speech.