Combating UK obesity crisis should be your ‘personal mission’, MPs tell Burnham
MPs have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to make tackling obesity a personal priority, saying the Government’s “moonshot” ambition lacks a clear plan and measurable goals. The Commons Health and Social Care Committee said it had “no faith” ministers would deliver without a coordinated approach, warning that public health, treatment and changes to the food environment require leadership across government.
England’s 10-year health plan includes curbs on junk-food advertising aimed at children, restrictions on high-caffeine energy drinks for children and healthy-food sales reporting by large companies. The committee also wants a defined obesity-reduction target, milestones and an action plan; a promised reform of the soft drinks levy was later softened to considering changes. NHS figures show 30% of people aged 16 and over were obese in 2024, while 66% were overweight or living with obesity. MPs have separately warned that only about 6% of people eligible for Mounjaro are expected to receive it through the NHS in its first three years.
In short
- MPs say the obesity “moonshot” lacks detail and leadership.
- Three in ten UK adults were obese in 2024.
- Only around 6% of eligible people may get NHS Mounjaro in three years.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A clear, measurable obesity strategy led from the top could help turn broad ambitions into coordinated action across public health, the NHS and the food environment. Supporters of the committee’s approach argue that targets and milestones would make progress easier to track, while a stronger focus on prevention could reduce ill health and pressure on health services.
The case against
A government may reasonably be cautious about setting a single national target for a complex condition shaped by many factors, since it could oversimplify progress or encourage policies that overlook individual circumstances. Ministers could argue that existing measures on advertising, energy drinks and food sales, alongside treatment, are a more practical start, and that policy should remain flexible as evidence and implementation develop.
Explained simply
Obesity is a long-term health condition linked to higher risks of illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. In England, the NHS provides support ranging from advice and weight-management services to medicines for some people.
Responsibility for tackling obesity is spread across government, the NHS and the food industry. Policies can aim to prevent weight gain by changing the food environment, while treatment helps people already living with obesity.
The Government’s 10-year health plan includes measures on children’s food advertising, energy drinks and large companies’ reporting of healthy-food sales. MPs on the Commons Health and Social Care Committee say ministers also need clear targets and a coordinated plan, as obesity affects a large share of adults in England.