Ex Tory minister says obesity shouldn’t be ‘socially acceptable’

A former minister has said the government should “tell people they must not eat so much” to tackle obesity.

Lord Robathan, who served as the Conservative MP for South Leicestershire from 1992–2010, argued that ongoing anti-obesity policies currently operating in England were ineffective, and that personal choices must be taken into account.

It must not be “socially acceptable” to be very overweight, argued the ex-Minister of State for Northern Ireland.

Responding to the government’s anti-obesity plans for England in the House of Lord today, Lord Robathan: “I’m glad the government recognises the huge problem this is and the dangers that being overweight bring, especially during Covid. But… the strategy, as good as it might be, is not actually working.

The strategy, published in July 2020, focused on obesity as a societal issue, arguing that healthier options must be made more available.

“Is it not time, perhaps, to revert to the situation when I was young, when it was not socially acceptable to be grossly overweight and push individual responsibility?”

The government’s Health minister Lord Kamall replied: “One of the things we always have to be careful about with any strategy or programme is the unintended consequences,” explaining that the government did not wish to create “ more problems and concerns and anxiety for those who suffer from eating disorders”.