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The government's new strategy on obesity has received a mixed response from industry groups and health charities.
The department of health said that while achieving and maintaining calorie balance is a consequence of individual decisions about diet and activity, the availability of calorie-rich food now makes it much harder for individuals to maintain healthy lifestyles.
More than 60 per cent of adults in England and a third of 10 and 11-year-olds are obese.
Government, local government and "key partners" will act to change the environment to support individuals in changing their behaviour.
"To tackle overweight and obesity effectively we need to adopt a life course approach, from pre-conception through pregnancy, infancy, early years, childhood, adolescence and teenage years, and through to adulthood and preparing for older age," the government's strategy states.
"Action needs to encompass an appropriate balance of investment and effort between prevention and, for those who are overweight or obese, treatment and support.
"The government is determined to bring a new drive to this issue and, following consultation with partners, is setting two new national ambitions to act as a 'rallying cry' for us all, and show what might be achieved if we all pull together."
Health secretary Andrew Lansley has said he is not in favour of regulating the food and drink industry as a means of reducing obesity.
The British Heart Foundation said it is disappointed to see such an emphasis on just cutting calories.
"Obesity is without doubt one of the most significant and dangerous public health issues of our time and the food and drinks industry has a very important role to play," said BHA's associate medical director Dr Mike Knapton.
"The department of health is right to recognise that but it's disappointing to see such an emphasis on just cutting calories. There are lots of other things to consider too, like reducing saturated fat.
"If industry wants to be part of the solution then they should make sure we all have the information we need to make healthy choices, so colour-coded front-of-pack labelling must show calories but also saturated fat, salt and sugar."
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said retailers have been contributing to calorie reduction by reformulating products and changing portion sizes for years along with providing clear nutritional labelling.
"Earlier this year, the UK's seven largest food retailers in the UK, all members of the British Retail Consortium, committed themselves to every relevant pledge on food and alcohol in the Government's Public Health Responsibility Deal," said Andrew Opie, BRC's director of food policy.
"Understanding consumer behaviour is key to tackling obesity.
"Reducing the calories in a product doesn't work if people just eat something extra as well.
"We are doing a lot to help, but individuals have to take responsibility for the choices they make and there must be recognition of the role of exercise and education."
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said it was pleased at the government's "holisitic approach" to the obesity problem.
"The framework's clear focus and defined roles for a wide range of players including government, individuals, businesses and the health service at both a national and local level recognises that this is everybody's business," said Terry Jones, director of communications at FDF.
"Food manufacturers have a great track record of positive contributions to improving public health including clear labelling and reformulation of products, to help consumers make healthy choices.
"We are committed to continuing to work in partnership with the department of health and others through the Public Health Responsibility Deal to play our part in supporting people to achieve an appropriate calorie intake and a healthy lifestyle."
MEND, an organisation that provides prevention and treatment programmes for overweight children and adults across the UK, said obesity-induced illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and some types of cancer currently cost the NHS £5.1bn.
"With obesity becoming the 'norm' it's now harder for people to know if they are overweight, so we welcome the move to encourage local NHS staff to talk to families about their weight and sign-post them to support within their local community, such as MEND programmes," said chief executive Harry MacMillan.
"We welcome the government's acknowledgement of the need for evidence-based treatments for the majority of the population who are already overweight and obese while also focussing on prevention.
"We look forward to working with local government who are well placed to develop local strategies, commission evidence-based partners across sectors and deliver joined up solutions in their communities to support children and adults to live fitter, healthier and happier lives.
"However, while we welcome the specific targets around reducing calories and the focus on payment by outcomes, it's concerning that this same clarity and rigour has not been applied to the rather woolly overarching 'ambitions' which fail to clearly outline by what percentage the government plans to reduce overweight and obesity.
"We are also concerned about the lack of detail provided in the report about how the PCT-dominated structure will transition to the future world of ring-fenced public health funds being disbursed by local government."
The government's strategy has been criticised by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
"Simply telling people what they already know - that they need to eat less and move more - is a complete cop out," he said.
"The country's bill of health is shocking, and it's not going to get any better over the next 30 years if a clearly defined plan isn't put into place soon.
"We simply can't afford the financial or health costs of doing nothing. This government might be able to navigate us slowly out of a recession, but it has no clue about how to make sustainable change in the short or long term, or how to inspire, enforce or empower public health."
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