Following the announcement in the recent Budget of Government funding to tackle the nation’s obesity problem, health experts have cautiously welcomed the news.
The British Dietetic Association welcomed the announcement of additional funding for obesity services in England but cautioned that we need to see services run by experts and that people of every age in every area of the country should be able to access the support they need.
Dr Amanda Avery, Chair of the BDA Obesity Specialist Group, commented: “This new funding is a welcome step towards providing better and more consistent support to the many people of all ages living with obesity in England. It remains to be seen exactly how this money will be spent, though it seems unlikely that this £100m will be sufficient on its own to ensure that services are provided to all age groups and in all areas. We hope Government will go further to end the current postcode lottery for services and that services can be extended to support weight loss maintenance.”
Also commenting was the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), with its Chief Scientific Officer, Kate Halliwell, advising: “Given that obesity is a complex and multi-faceted issue, we’ve long called for a holistic approach to address obesity and targeted support for those who most need it. Establishing a taskforce to help educate and encourage the public to make healthier choices is most welcome.”
