Govt weighs obesity plan

Thursday, 3 January 2008 12:00 AM

The government is to release a "radical long-term strategy" against obesity later this month, it has announced.

Health minister Ivan Lewis advanced expectations that the modernised NHS will involve greater emphasis on healthy living with the publication of an interim paper on the issue today.

The Cabinet Office's strategy unit believes 70,000 lives could be saved every year through healthier eating.

It says Britons consuming more fruit, vegetables, oily fish and wholegrains and less sugary drinks and saturated fats would cut one in every ten deaths.

Health minister Ivan Lewis says the forthcoming plan will "underline the centrality of prevention and public health at the heart of a modern NHS".

"Obesity is now one of the great challenges facing both the NHS and our society," he commented.

"While government alone cannot provide all the solutions, it is essential we offer strong leadership commensurate with the importance of the issue."

The strategy unit's paper says most Britons are not getting the right balance in their diets, claiming less energy should be derived from products like "pies, cakes and crisps".

It says the government is taking steps to tackle the problem in school but adds the key to large-scale improvement remains changing people's eating habits.

A third of cardiovascular cases and a quarter of deaths from cancer are believed to be diet-related.

On Tuesday prime minister Gordon Brown laid out proposals for an NHS constitution establishing patients' "rights and responsibilities".

Commentators said those suffering smoking- and obesity-related diseases could face pressure to improve their lifestyles as a result.

The government denied plans to refuse treatments, however.

Tags:
• health
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• obesity
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• public health