Fix our broken food system, The House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee has said in its report to the Government after declaring obesity and diet-related disease as public health emergencies. 28% of UK adults are currently obese, and obesity in the UK has doubled since 1993. Obesity is now a bigger disability-related factor than smoking. The implications for public health are huge. Obesity increases a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and muscular and skeletal issues. People with obesity are also more likely to face mental health challenges. This not only affects the individual but also has a significant impact on public health spending. According to the report, the UK spends about £18 billion each year on 'direct medical costs of conditions related to being overweight or obese', which is 'equivalent to the United Kingdom's combined budget for the police and fire services... and about half the country's defence budget.' The report wants the Government to take the lead, using regulations and incentives to ensure that the nation's health isn't undermined by corporate profit. It wants it to be easier and more affordable for people to make nutritious food choices, recognising that children from poorer families are more likely to develop obesity. The report also criticises commercial baby food, which often contains high sugar levels. Several of the report's key recommendations include: ✅ Giving the Food Standards Agency (FSA) independent oversight of the food system. ✅ Tax on sugar and salt to help reduce consumption and fund healthy food subsidies. ✅ Commission more research into the links between ultra-processed food and poor health outcomes. UPFs account for around half the average person's diet in the UK, ✅ Ban pre-watershed adverts for unhealthy foods. ✅ Widen eligibility for Healthy Start and free school meals to help those in poverty make healthier food choices. No European country has successfully tackled obesity, proving there's more to the issue than telling people to eat less and move more. One review in the British Medical Journal wrote that most countries were still trying to change individual behaviour rather than "addressing structural drivers of obesity, despite overwhelming evidence of the wider social determinants of obesity." It's good to see the report calling on the Government to take the lead, especially as the rising cost of obesity on the healthcare system and economy will only rise without intervention.It will be interesting to see the Government's response to the report. You can read the full report here 💚 The future of fitness is almost here—sign up for RE:GEN updates💚