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Dept of Health

Answer

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to produce national guidelines for the management of obesity in addition to those which are part of the National Framework for Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes; and if he will make a statement. [127689] Miss Melanie Johnson: Following publication of the Government's strategy for sustainable farming and food, the Department of Health is leading on developing a cross-Government food and health action plan. The plan will pull together all of the issues that influence what we eat and will address food production, manufacture and preparation, access to healthier food and providing information for consumers about healthy eating and nutrition, which is of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has already issued national guidance on the anti-obesity drugs orlistat and subutramine, treatment with which should be accompanied by appropriate advice on diet, activity and behavioural strategies. NICE has also issued guidance on surgery to aid weight reduction for people with morbid obesity and have been tasked, in collaboration with the Health Development Agency, to develop guidance on the identification, prevention and management of obesity and maintenance of weight reduction. To ensure there is a co-ordinated and strategic approach to the planning and delivery of sport and physical activity, an activity co-ordination team (ACT) has been established. The team, jointly led by the Department of Health and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, will set out a cross-government strategy to work towards the challenging target for 70 per cent. of the population to be active by 2020. The Department of Health has published a national quality assurance framework for exercise referral systems, offering guidance to primary care and fitness professionals, who work together to offer tailored exercise and physical activity programmes to patients. The Department has also supported the development guidance for professionals in primary care on weight management in children and adolescents, produced by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and National Obesity Forum. We are also funding research on family-based treatment for obese children that will include resources for health professionals. The Health Development Agency will publish their review of effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity later this year. Work on how to put the evidence into practice is also being taken forward.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

127689; 410 c248-9W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Children Health services Health education Medical treatments Prescription drugs Nutrition Obesity Standards Exercise

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk