Government action to tackle obesity crisis ‘far from bold’ – say Lords

The Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee has expressed disappointment with the government’s response to its recommendations for tackling the obesity crisis.

In October 2024, the Committee released its report, Recipe for Health: A Plan to Fix Our Broken Food System, following a special inquiry.

The report identified obesity and diet-related diseases as a public health emergency, costing society billions annually in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.

It urged the government to develop a “comprehensive, integrated long-term new strategy to fix the food system”, supported by a new legislative framework and outlined key actions that should be included.

The government published its response to the report on 30 January 2025, but the Committee criticized it for lacking boldness and delaying many necessary measures.

Baroness Walmsley, who chaired the Committee said: “In recent interviews with researchers, former prime ministers and health secretaries expressed regret that they had not done more to tackle obesity and advised the government
to ‘be bold and act fast’.

“The report from the Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee recommended bold measures to be implemented immediately.