The RCP has responded to the publication of the government’s National Food Strategy.
Responding to the strategy, Professor Rachel Batterham, Royal College of Physicians special adviser on obesity, said: “The National Food Strategy set out by the government earlier this week won’t tackle the obesity crisis.
“Obesity is a complex, multi-factorial disease that can only be truly tackled with concerted cross-government action.
“Given the government’s recent U-turn on buy-one-get-one-free deals and junk food adverts before the watershed, the promise that the upcoming Health Disparities White Paper will set out further detail on food and diet may be met with some scepticism.
"In order to reduce obesity and improve health we need comprehensive policies and access to treatments. Personal responsibility alone simply does not work: more than 1 in 4 children are now leaving primary school with obesity. The need for government to set out a clear cross-government strategy to reduce health inequalities grows more urgent by the day."
