Henry Dimbleby and Dr Chris van Tulleken to give evidence to Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee

On Thursday 22 February, the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity Committee will hear from Henry Dimbleby and Dr Chris van Tulleken in an evidence session that will explore a range of themes including the causes and statistical trends of obesity, ultra processed food and food high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), the role of the food industry in affecting policy-making, and the effectiveness of Government policy in tackling obesity.

The session will start at 10.30am and will be available to watch live or on demand at Parliament TV or attend in person in Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster.

Questions will include:

• What are the most common diet-related health issues, and how prevalent are they?
• What are the main barriers to eating a healthy diet, and what are the most effective strategies and approaches to overcome them?
• What is an ultra-processed food (UPF) and how would a member of the public recognise it?
• What factors distinguish UPF from HFSS products, and how much do they overlap?
• What does the evidence tell us about the health impacts of UPF and HFSS consumption, particularly on the microbiome?
• How influential is the food industry in driving poor health outcomes and in the wider policymaking process? What is the role and responsibility of the food industry in tackling obesity?
• How effective have Government obesity policies been? What should be the characteristics of future Government policies if they are to be successfully implemented and effective?

The Committee launched its call for evidence yesterday. Full details, including how to make submissions are available on its website.