The UK’s U-turn on obesity is a failure of leadership

The decision to “delay” implementation of the government’s obesity strategy risks derailing UK domestic efforts and undermines its reputation at the World Health Assembly, where obesity policies are on the agenda

In the run up to the 2022 World Health Assembly, we are shocked that the Department of Health and Social Care is reversing hard won commitments to address the environmental factors driving obesity prevalence by delaying policy changes designed to protect the future health of the UK. This includes a pause of at least one year on a planned ban on “buy one get one free” deals for food and drinks that are high in fat, salt, or sugar; plans to restrict TV advertising of junk foods before the 9pm watershed and reportedly, not renewing its £100m investment in prevention and weight management services, despite overwhelming evidence that obesity is a growing public health crisis across the country.1

Just this month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called out the very same policy commitments, hailing what would have delivered “world leading” legislation. The report said, “this provides an example for other governments to watch and follow.”2 Sadly, this move by Downing Street means the UK is now falling short of such global leadership.

The government has justified its decision by citing the cost-of-living crisis and concerns about increasing the cost of food, but this doesn’t withstand scrutiny. It is undoubtedly a challenging time for many people, and the crisis is hitting the poorest in the UK hardest.3 Obesity is no different. People in deprived areas face the greatest barriers to healthy and affordable foods and much needed medical support. So where is the help for access to healthy food now?

The health and wellbeing of everyone in the UK is a right, not a luxury. Yet, the obesity gap in the UK is growing, with children and adults from lower socio-economic backgrounds more vulnerable to obesity. WHO has called these inequalities preventable and unfair.

The statistics add up to immediate and long term public health failures. In 2010, the UK topped the league table of 20 European Union nations for having one of the world’s fastest obesity growth rates. In 2019/20 there were more than 1 million hospital admissions linked to obesity in England, an increase of 17 per cent on the previous year. Globally, the UK is sadly in line with all countries in disastrously missing the WHO obesity targets set in 2013, with 2030 projections for obesity showing that rates are expected to double during a time period when levels should have remained stable4 And it is as much an economic as public health failure, costing the NHS England at least £63 billion a year as well as adding myriad productivity and caring costs to the economy.5

In failing to implement these measures, the government is ignoring evidence it previously put forward to met the targets it set.6 From its own commitments in the 2020 Obesity Strategy, to the Foresight obesity reportand systems map showing how social, physical, and economic environments increase the risk of overweight and obesity, through to the National Food Strategyreiterating the importance of focusing on the early drivers of obesity and a “systems approach”—the overwhelming evidence for implementing the delayed measures is there, but the action is not.78

To change the UK’s obesity trajectory, we cannot simply tell people to “eat less; move more.” Obesity is driven by forces outside any one single person’s control, including those that are biological, social, economic, and environmental.

It is time to substantially modify the structures, systems, and environment in which we live, work, learn, and play. We must stop just focusing on individual behaviour change, and focus instead on what will make the most difference, particularly to the vulnerable in our societies. We must also reject the government’s de facto approach of replacing legislation and regulation with voluntary industry self-regulation on the sugar, salt, and fat content of foods, and on junk food advertising to children. As with other serious and urgent, but complex systemic challenges, industry self-regulation is not effective. For example, last week’s climate change report showed that 49 of 50 agreed targets were missed by companies: the challenges are even greater when it comes to obesity.9 Industry will undoubtedly gain from the government’s decision, while people and the NHS will lose.

The aborted measures would have been the beginning of a more structurally focused and systems-wide approach. Failure to see through that legislation once more places the responsibility on the individual. It also highlights why a comprehensive approach to obesity in the UK and in all countries is so critical. The obesity recommendations to be approved at the World Health Assembly in Geneva run a real risk of being side lined in favour of more of the same siloed solutions. As the UK is showing, comprehensiveness is traded off for piece-meal approaches.

With over 40 million people living with obesity and overweight, the UK should be delivering joined up, visionary and thoughtful action—like subsidizing fruit and vegetables and real ingredients, and putting taxes on junk food as is the case with sugary drinks.1011 But despite setting a plan in motion last year, these announcements show that the government is happy to kick obesity prevention, treatment, and management into the long grass. This will leave millions with nowhere to turn and a growing belief that this government is not seriously committed to understanding their needs.

The 75th World Health Assembly will discuss recommendations to address obesity, as well as WHO’s Acceleration Plan to support their implementation in selected front runner countries. Will the UK cede its role as a model for what works and instead sit on the side lines?

We call on the UK government to reverse its U-turn on the obesity strategy immediately, so that it can join other countries at the WHA demonstrating determination and resolve to enact evidence-based measures that address the myriad drivers of the obesity crisis.