§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated cost to the National Health Service over the next five years as a result of overweight and obesity. [HL5555]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThis information is not available. However, the National Audit Office reportTackling Obesity in England (NAO) published in 2001, estimated the direct cost to the National Health Service of overweight and obesity in 1998 to be £500 million, or 1.5 per cent of the total NHS expenditure. The NAO report also estimated the indirect cost of obesity to be around £2 billion. Combining the estimates of direct and indirect costs, the total estimated cost of obesity in 1998 was £2.6 billion. Based on present trends, the report calculated that the combined annual costs would increase to £3.6 billion by 2010.
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much government funding has been allocated for research and development into issues related to overweight and obesity in the next five years. [HL5556]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Government have funded and continue to fund a wide range of research and development relating to diet, nutrition, obesity and other related research such as diabetes and coronary heart disease. It is not possible to predict what the future level of government expenditure will be as new proposals are regularly being considered and commissioned.
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§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What initiatives are being developed to raise the awareness of overweight and obesity and their related morbidities. [HL5557]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThere are a range of programmes on promoting healthy eating and physical activity, and reducing overweight and obesity which are being developed as part of the National Service Framework for coronary heart disease. These programmes also contribute to reducing the risk of obesity related conditions and diseases such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
The department is also developing a Five-a-Day Programme which includes local Five-a-Day community initiatives, based in deprived areas, which provide education about the health benefits of fruit and vegetables, as well as improved access and availability. To increase awareness of the importance of diet and exercise among children, we have a Healthy Schools Programme that aims to promote better health for all children and young people through education on a range of issues.
There are also a range of organisations and charities such as the British Dietetic Association, the Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust and Weight Concern who are raising awareness about the problem of obesity and are supported through the department's Section 64 grant scheme.
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to supporting the proposals in the Action Plan on Obesity recently produced by the Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust. [HL5558]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Department of Health supports the Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust through the provision of the Section 64 grant scheme. Under the scheme the Department of Health has to manage the grant, and this involves discussions about its work programme, including the Action Plan. The Obesity Awareness and Solutions Trust provides valuable support and advice to obese people and its Action Plan complements the department's work to tackle this problem.
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have considered a National Service Framework for Overweight and Obesity; and [HL5553]
What standards and milestones have been set for the reduction of overweight and obesity, other than those within the National Service Framework for coronary heart disease. [HL5554]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe Government are not considering a National Service Framework for overweight and obesity. There are no specific standards and milestones for the reductions in the level224WA of overweight and obesity. However, action to address obesity is being taken forward through the national service frameworks for coronary heart disease and older people. To meet standard one of the National Service Framework for Diabetes will also require action to reduce obesity.