How to tackle obesity in your constituency

MEND in your constituency

MEND Programmes are now available in over 300 locations across the UK including sites in Scotland and Wales.

To see where MEND's programmes are running in your constituency click here.

For a briefing of what MEND are doing to help your constituents tackle overweight and obesity levels, or to arrange a visit to your local programme, please contact us.

• Obesity levels in your constituency
• What you, as an MP, can do to help

Briefings

Key statistics
About MEND

Policy

Healthy lives, Healthy people: A call to action on obesity in England (2011)
Building on Healthy lives, Healthy people, this paper sets out the Government's strategy for tackling obesity in England. It lays out the roles of individuals themselves, as well as local and central government, business, and other delivery partners in taking responsibility for tackling obesity within the new public health framework. Specifically, it states two national ambitions of a sustained downward trend in the level of excess weight in children by 2020, and a downward trend in the level of excess weight averaged across all adults by 2020. In addition, it announces the formation of a new National Ambition Review Group to be chaired by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health to drive forward and review the progress of this strategy.

Healthy Lives, Healthy People (2010)
The White Paper places local government and local communities at the heart of improving health and wellbeing. It is also framed as a response to the Marmot Review and emphasises the importance of tackling health inequalities. The Paper confirms a ring-fenced public health budget of an estimated £4billion and outlines the role of the new integrated public health service, Public Health England. An obesity-specific paper is expected to be published in Spring 2011.

Marmot Review: Fair Society, Healthy Lives (2010)
The Marmot Review was commissioned by the then Secretary of State for Health to identify the evidence most relevant to underpinning future policy and action for tackling the health inequalities challenge facing England, and suggest how this evidence could be translated into action. The report identifies a social gradient in health and makes 6 key policy recommendations including strengthening the role and impact of ill health prevention.

Darzi Review: High Quality Care for All (2009)
The government commissioned Lord Ara Darzi to conduct a next stage review of the NHS in England through consultation with the 10 Strategic Health Authorities. The Review dictates that the future of the NHS must focus on tackling challenges, including obesity, through practical action and improving health as well as treating sickness.

Foresight Report: Tackling Obesities: Future Choices (2007)
The Foresight Report was commissioned by the Foresight programme within the Government Office for Science to consider how society might deliver a sustainable response to obesity in the UK over the next 40 years. The final report revealed key statistics and projections of the scale of the obesity crisis, identified the causes of obesity, and recommended a ‘socially responsible and prevention focussed’ solution.

Useful Links

Childhood Obesity National Support Team
Health Select Committee
Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
Science and Technology Committee (Lords)
Change4Life
National Obesity Forum
Obesity Portal
Obesity in the UK: Lords debate (January 2010)
Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives – A Cross-Government Strategy for England (2008)