More funds needed to tip the scales in the obesity battle
The National Heart Forum and the Faculty of Public Health today welcomed the publication of new NICE guidelines on the prevention and treatment of obesity, but warned that cross-governmental commitment to protect public health funds is essential to halting the obesity crisis.
Dr Alan Maryon Davis, Director of Public Health at Southwark and chair of the Faculty's cardiovascular expert group said: "The NICE guidance shows that our priority has to be prevention because the likely costs to the NHS for the treatment of obesity are unsustainable. The NICE guidelines will be little more than aspirational unless public health funds to tackle this epidemic are protected."
The NHF and FPH also welcomed recognition by NICE that it isn't just the role of the NHS to tackle obesity, and that local authorities, community groups and businesses all have a part to play..
Paul Lincoln, Chief Executive of the National Heart Forum said: “For the health of the nation we need to positively promote active living in the same way that other European countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands have so successfully done.
We can only achieve this by creating an environment that promotes healthy lifestyles. This needs commitment from across government to tip the scales in the battle against obesity.“
ENDS
Media enquiries: contact Chloe Parkin or Lindsey Stewart, Faculty of Public Health on 07886 960741
Note to editors
- The National Heart Forum and Faculty of Public Health have produced a toolkit for developing a local strategy to tackle overweight and obesity in children and adults. Lightening the load: tackling obesity is available at www.heartforum.org.uk and www.fph.org.uk
- The Faculty is an authoritative public health body which maintains and improves standards in the public health workforce to improve the health of the population. For further information visit the Faculty's website: www.fph.org.uk
- The National Heart Forum (NHF ) is an alliance of 50 national organisations working to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, the UK 's biggest single – yet largely preventable – cause of death and disease. See: www.heartforum.org.uk
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