§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation he has made of studies into long-term calorific restriction diets and their effectiveness in reducing the risk of(a) cancer, (b) coronary heart disease, (c) diabetes and (d) strokes. [169236]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department has not specifically evaluated the long-term effects of calorie restricted diets, but animal research has consistently shown that calorie restriction can increase lifespan by about 30 per cent. and protect against cancer. The longterm effect of calorie restriction in humans has yet to be established.
Obesity increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and hypertension. Evidence indicates that maintaining a healthy weight is a key element in the prevention of these conditions.