Written question asked by Earl Howe (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Warner (Labour) on Monday, 9 October 2006.

Obesity and Diets

Question: Whether meal replacements for weight control, as regulated in the Foods Intended for Use in Energy Restricted Diets for Weight Reduction Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/2182), will be included in the obesity guidance currently under review by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; and

Answer: The Government have not examined the comparative costs of commercial diets and do not provide information on these diets to obese National Health Service patients. However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence draft guidance on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of obesity in adults and children states that there is moderate evidence that a multi-component commercial group programme may be more effective than a standard self-help programme. There is also no strong evidence to support the use of meal replacement products over a standard low-calorie diet.

Secondary information