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Obesity and Fatty Liver Disease
28 October 2025
Lead MP
Beccy Cooper
Worthing West
Lab
Responding Minister
Karin Smyth
Tags
Taxation
Word Count: 12836
Other Contributors: 15
At a Glance
Beccy Cooper raised concerns about obesity and fatty liver disease in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Calls for a national liver strategy, joined-up public health work, profound reform of food systems to ensure healthy food is affordable and accessible, and improvements in diagnosis and treatment covered in the national cancer plan.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The debate highlights the alarming increase in liver disease deaths, up by 400% over the past two decades with 18,000 annual deaths and becoming a leading cause of premature death. Fatty liver disease affects one in five adults but is often asymptomatic until advanced stages, making early diagnosis difficult.
Ben Coleman
Lab
Chelsea and Fulham
Suggested that unhealthy food is a principal reason for the rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Advocated for making healthy food more affordable and accessible, as well as tackling advertising of unhealthy foods. Argued that people should not be blamed for obesity when they are bombarded with advertising. Highlighted the need for government support in tackling obesity, citing £6.4 billion spent annually on food industry marketing.
Clive Jones
LD
Wokingham
Supports the need for improvements in diagnosis and treatment of fatty liver disease to be included in the national cancer plan, stressing its impact on liver cancer rates.
Debbie Abrahams
Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Stresses the importance of addressing health inequalities and improving access to nutritious food for poorer communities, highlighting issues related to school meals and food supporters like the Trussell Trust.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Asked about liver function tests availability, workforce plan delay impact, economic cost of obesity, future medication dependency, sugar in baby food reforms, drug licensing for fatty liver disease, pricing negotiations, NICE quality threshold review, investment support for life sciences sector.
Winchester
Discussed the commonality of fatty liver disease in animals, highlighting the need for early detection and treatment. Emphasized the importance of making healthy food more affordable and accessible to combat rising rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Emphasised individual responsibility over blaming the government for people's diet choices and highlighted issues like low vitamin D, B12, and iron levels due to unhealthy diets among patients.
Liam Byrne
Lab
Harrow West
Acknowledges the importance of addressing obesity but questions the effectiveness of current approaches without systemic changes.
Richard Graham
Con
Richmond Park
Supports measures to prevent liver disease and emphasises the role of technology in healthcare delivery for obese patients.
Simon Opher
Lab
Stroud
As a GP, Dr Opher advocates for shifts in care from cure to prevention, out of hospitals into the community, and using data effectively to identify high-risk individuals.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Portsmouth South
Discussed the importance of lateral thinking and community involvement in addressing liver disease and obesity. Emphasised the Government's commitment to making communities drivers of change for healthier environments.
Lorraine Beavers
Lab
Blackpool North and Fleetwood
Liver disease is the second-biggest cause of early death in England and Wales, rising by more than 40% since 2001. Blackpool has the second-highest rate of liver disease deaths with over 41 deaths per 100,000 people.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Highlights that failing to address fatty liver disease will further complicate NHS waiting lists. Emphasises the importance of raising public awareness about the issue.
Marie Rimmer
Lab
St Helens South and Whiston
St Helens has the highest rate of deaths from liver disease in England, at 43.5 per 100,000, with premature death rates double the national average. Sara's story highlights late diagnosis leading to her father Stephen’s untimely death.
Peter Dowd
Lab
Bootle
Inequality exacerbates fatty liver disease; the most deprived areas see five times more cases. In Bootle, it could result in up to 150 deaths annually from liver disease, with an average age of death being 61 for men and 62 for women. Suggested funding for local community initiatives to create safer, healthier environments in pride in place areas.
Steve Yemm
Lab
Mansfield
Emphasises that metabolic dysfunction rather than body weight is a culprit in fatty liver disease. Advocates for screening early, taxing junk food and treating metabolic disorders instead of focusing strictly on BMI.
Government Response
Karin Smyth
The Minister for Secondary Care
Government Response
Acknowledged the debate's importance in public health and praised Dr Cooper’s expertise. Discussed the Government's efforts to tackle obesity, noting that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease affects about one in three adults in the UK, with almost two-thirds of adults overweight or obese and nearly 13 million people living with obesity. Highlights initiatives such as the roll-out of Mounjaro, the obesity pathway innovation programme, and support for severely obese children. Emphasises the Government's commitment to reducing health inequalities through its 10-year health plan.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.