Shadow Public Health Minister describes government’s new obesity strategy as ‘pathetic.’

13 Oct 2011
Diane Abbott described the government's much heralded obesity strategy as ‘pathetic.’

She said:

‘David Cameron and Andrew Lansley have set out the problem once again but don’t offer any new remedies. There is a reliance on their ‘responsibility deals’ with industry, although these are now largely discredited. It makes no sense to me that companies that spend billions of pounds every year peddling fizzy drinks and trans-fat loaded food are seriously going to eat into their profits by genuinely trying to change the public’s eating habits.

‘Andrew Lansley also seems to be laying great emphasis on local authorities promoting practical weight loss and nutrition programmes on the ground. But local authorities are having to make unprecedented cuts. And even though they will be getting ring-fenced public health money, the likelihood is that some of that money will sucked into public health related areas like social care. There will certainly be no new money for brand new anti-obesity work. Once again, Andrew Lansley has failed the public on this issue.’

-ENDS-

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