HC Deb 26 June 1997 vol 296 cc621-2W
Mr. Mitchell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to achieve "The Health of the Nation" targets to reduce the percentage of men aged 16 to 64 years who are obese. [5319]

Ms Jowell

The Health Survey for England 1995 shows that the prevalence of obesity increased from 13 per cent. for men and 16 per cent. for women in 1993 to 15 per cent. and 18 per cent. respectively in 1995. Obesity is more common with increasing age up to 64 years in men and 74 years in women, and is more common in manual than non-manual social classes. Men in Social Class III (manual) and women in Social Class IV have the highest rates (17.6 per cent. and 24.1 per cent. respectively). Obesity is a long-term problem and needs a long-term strategy. We will continue to support the action on obesity and obesity-related illness which addresses:

  1. (a) prevention of increasing fatness in the whole population
  2. (b) the particular problems of high risk groups e.g. those already overweight
  3. (c) treatment of those who are already obese.

Work initiated by the Nutrition Task Force and the Physical Activity Task Force is directed towards helping people to reduce the fat content of their diets and encourage physical activity.

The role of physical activity in helping to maintain a healthy weight is well recognised. The "Active for Life" campaign, which is funded by the Department and run by the Health Education Authority, promotes the value of increased physical activity. The campaign targeted people aged 16 to 74 in its first year and will continue to run to 1999. As part of this campaign we are also looking at physical activity and young people. To this end, an expert conference was convened last week to establish a consensus on the optimum levels of physical activity for school aged children and young people.