Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, held a Westminster Hall debate yesterday (27 February) to raise the importance of tackling obesity. Sir David commented that “obesity is a major public health problem and a global concern” and that “tackling obesity requires a cross-party approach”.

During his speech, he called for action to be take on an individual level but also expressed the importance of societal change, government interventions and changes in the food and drinks industry. He highlighted the work of the independent Times Health Commission, a year-long inquiry that called for stronger Government intervention to tackle the growing obesity crisis and that recommended a number of interventions to combat obesity, including expansion of the sugar tax, curbs on cartoons on packaging and a pre-watershed ban on junk food advertising on television.

Sir David concluded by stating: “With strategic policy interventions, we have an opportunity to turn the tide against obesity, improve our nations’ health, enhance people’s quality of life, prevent needless early deaths and secure the economic future of our nation”.

During the debate, Sir David was joined by colleagues from both sides of the House, who share his concerns on the increasing levels of obesity. The debate was responded to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care, Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP, who laid out the actions the government is taking to address the issue and raised the importance of early intervention for children.