That this House welcomes the focus of the White Paper on Public Health on the need to tackle the growing problems of overweight and obesity; welcomes in this context the slimming on referral project developed by Slimming World, in association with primary care trusts; notes that this slimming on referral programme offers overweight patients free membership of a local group at reduced cost to the National Health Service; observes that the required target of between five per cent. and 10 per cent. weight loss for health improvement is achieved by a high percentage of patients participating in this programme at a net cost to the NHS substantially lower than many other options including the use of prescription drugs; commends the slimming on referral approach to the Department of Health and to primary care trusts and strategic health authorities developing obesity strategies; and invites Ministers to promote slimming on referral as one of the range of legitimate, scientifically validated options for weight reduction that are being taken forward by the Department of Health.

That this House welcomes the focus of the White Paper on Public Health on the need to tackle the growing problems of overweight and obesity; welcomes in this context the slimming on referral project developed by Slimming World, in association with primary care trusts; notes that this slimming on referral...

That this House notes that there is a crisis in children's diet-related health, demonstrated by alarming increases in childhood obesity and the appearance of adult-onset diseases, such as type II diabetes, in schoolchildren, which the Food Standards Agency has described as a timebomb which needs to be defused; further notes that the 2000 National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows that nine in 10 children consume more saturated fat and eight in 10 children consume more sugar and five in 10 children consume more salt than levels recommended for adults; recognises that this situation is caused by a number of factors, including marketing to children of foods containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt, the poor composition of foods on sale in schools, the lack of practical cooking skills in the national curriculum and insufficient promotion to children of healthy foods; and therefore supports in principle the Children's Food Bill which will result in the implementation of a range of measures which will improve children's diets and future health.

That this House notes that there is a crisis in children's diet-related health, demonstrated by alarming increases in childhood obesity and the appearance of adult-onset diseases, such as type II diabetes, in schoolchildren, which the Food Standards Agency has described as a timebomb which needs to be defused; further notes...

That this House notes that the level of obesity in the United Kingdom has more than trebled over the last 20 years and that one in five adults is now obese; congratulates The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust (TOAST) on the organisation of National Obesity Awareness Week commencing on 22nd March; extends to TOAST its best wishes for continuing success in highlighting the scale and causes of obesity and the need for public policy to promote access to a range of possible solutions, and for providing practical support for those who are overweight and obese; further notes the proposed establishment by TOAST of Toast House to be a centre of excellence for work on all aspects of obesity through conference facilities, training courses and support programmes, counselling, healthy living and residential facilities, motivational support and research resources; and hopes that it will receive the support necessary to realise its vision.

That this House notes that the level of obesity in the United Kingdom has more than trebled over the last 20 years and that one in five adults is now obese; congratulates The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust (TOAST) on the organisation of National Obesity Awareness Week commencing on 22nd...

That this House applauds the members of the All Party Weight Watchers Group for their efforts during the annual charity incentive and throughout the year; commends parliamentary colleagues in Cardiff and Edinburgh who have been similarly engaged; notes that the Group's purpose to promote the long-term benefits to health of gradual weight loss, healthy eating and exercise is increasingly topical, and congratulates Weight Watchers for providing a weekly opportunity for colleagues to watch their weight and also improve their health.

That this House applauds the members of the All Party Weight Watchers Group for their efforts during the annual charity incentive and throughout the year; commends parliamentary colleagues in Cardiff and Edinburgh who have been similarly engaged; notes that the Group's purpose to promote the long-term benefits to health of...

That this House notes with concern that cancer is now the number one killer disease in the UK and that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death after lung cancer with some 18,000 deaths caused by it each year, that while it is rare in those aged under 40 years, age-specific rates rise continuously and steeply after the age of 50, that research indicates that while it is likely that genetic factors are involved in the development of bowel cancer the majority of cases occur sporadically and that lifestyle factors are likely to be highly significant, and that leading international experts agree that a diet rich in cereal fibre is protective against bowel cancer; congratulates the Cancer Research Campaign and Kellogg's on the joint initiative to raise awareness of the incidence of bowel cancer in this country and highlight the role a fibre-rich diet can play in helping to protect individuals simply and cost-effectively against this disease; and believing that prevention is better than cure, urges the Government to support this initiative and make the reduction of bowel cancer a priority.

That this House notes with concern that cancer is now the number one killer disease in the UK and that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death after lung cancer with some 18,000 deaths caused by it each year, that while it is rare in those...

That this House supports the approach of Her Majesty's Government that food safety policy should be based upon sound science; and therefore invites the Minister for Food Safety to ask the Food Advisory Committee and the Committee on Toxicity to re-examine the published literature on the safety of vitamin B6 supplements, to consult more widely with international scientific experts on the application of safety factors to nutrients, and to review their recommendations on the safe levels of such supplements.

That this House supports the approach of Her Majesty's Government that food safety policy should be based upon sound science; and therefore invites the Minister for Food Safety to ask the Food Advisory Committee and the Committee on Toxicity to re-examine the published literature on the safety of vitamin B6...

That this House supports International No Diet Day on 5th May, the purpose of which is to draw attention to the perils and futility of dieting, except for medical reasons such as stomach ulcers and diabetes, and to promote a healthier way of living; notes that dieting undermines people's emotional and physical wellbeing and is often the first step towards more serious eating disorders; condemns the pressure on women, girls and young men to be unhealthily thin; is concerned that dieting has reached epidemic levels; notes that 90 per cent. of women will diet at some time in their lives, and at any given time 50 per cent. of women are dieting including girls as young as eight years and women as old as 75 years; regrets that Western women and girls are starving through dieting when in other parts of the world so many people are dying through starvation; believes that the tyranny of thinness encourages women to be valued on their looks alone and encourages the oppression of fat people as well as causing misinformation on healthy living and eating; realises that, whilst obesity may cause health risks to some people, the solution is not a simple one of losing weight because 96 per cent. of diets do not work, and dieting causes other problems including low self-esteem, mood swings, depression, gall stones, lack of concentration, constipation and headaches; and therefore supports International No Diet Day for a better way of living.

That this House supports International No Diet Day on 5th May, the purpose of which is to draw attention to the perils and futility of dieting, except for medical reasons such as stomach ulcers and diabetes, and to promote a healthier way of living; notes that dieting undermines people's emotional...

That this House notes with great concern that a Council Directive of the European Commission is being prepared with a view to bringing dietary supplements, vitamins and minerals, under European legislative discipline; notes that in Britain dietary supplements come under food law and may be sold freely, whereas in most Community member states they are classified as medicines unless the dosage is very small, and may be sold only on prescription, through pharmacies, which is a highly restrictive practice, has created a thriving black market in these countries, and would be both unwelcome to British consumers and prohibitive to British trade and industry; further notes that the United Kingdom already has ample laws to prevent the sale of dangerous products; and calls for the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Health to make a statement to the effect that the Government will not permit any clause in the aforesaid Directive which purports that products currently sold as food supplements should be reclassified as medicines, to be enforced in the United Kingdom.

That this House notes with great concern that a Council Directive of the European Commission is being prepared with a view to bringing dietary supplements, vitamins and minerals, under European legislative discipline; notes that in Britain dietary supplements come under food law and may be sold freely, whereas in most...