'Law must be used to combat obesity'
The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) has responded to Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England.
Professor Lindsey Davies, FPH President, said: “This is a long-awaited report and we will scrutinise it thoroughly to see how it will improve the public's health and waistlines.
"The report says that the Government will 'do what it can' to help people make better choices, and it is asking all of us to do what we can to take responsibility for our own health. However, we are disappointed that the Government has not yet stepped up to its responsibility to protect the public's health by banning transfats and introducing a minimum price for alcohol.
"The smoking ban has demonstrated how changing the law can improve health and save thousands of lives. The Government must use the law as well as 'nudge' techniques to create a culture that makes it easy for people to make healthy choices and consume fewer calories.
"Responding to the call to action needs leadership and resources, which will be a real challenge to public health at such an uncertain time. We will continue to make the case for evidence-based solutions to the obesity crisis."
The full report can be found the Department of Health website.
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Written: 13/10/2011 , last modified: 06/02/2012
