§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to introduce national guidelines for the management of obesity in addition to those which form part of the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes. [HL1415]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathFollowing publication of the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, the Department of Health is leading on developing a cross-government food and health action plan. It will pull together all of the issues on diet and nutrition—of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity.
93WAThe National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has already issued national guidance on the anti-obesity drugs orlistat and sibutramine, treatment with which should be accompanied by appropriate advice on diet, activity and behavioural strategies. NICE has also recently issued guidance on surgery to aid weight reduction for people with morbid obesity.
The Department of Health has also published a National Quality Assurance Framework for exercise referral systems, offering guidance to primary care and fitness professionals who work together to offer tailored exercise and physical activity programmes to patients.
The Department of Health has supported the development of a recently published guidance for professionals in primary care on weight management in children and adolescents, produced by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and National Obesity Forum. We are also funding research on family-based treatment for obese children, which will include resources for health professionals.
Other wider initiatives include the evidence-based live-a-day handbook to support staff in primary care trusts and other organisations to establish community-wide initiatives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. The Health Development Agency is also providing a report setting out the evidence base for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity and the maintenance of weight loss.