The impact of physical activity and diet on health
19 November 2014
The Health Committee have decided to launch an inquiry into the impact of diet and physical activity on health.
There are growing concerns about the burden of disease as a result of unhealthy diets and physical inactivity; not only the impact upon individuals but the consequences for the NHS and for wider society.
A significant proportion of our population takes too little exercise and many people’s diets are unbalanced with, for example, too much fat, sugar and alcohol. This in turn contributes to high and rising levels of obesity and an increase in avoidable illness and health inequality.
The Health Committee has decided to hold an inquiry into the impact of diet and exercise on physical and mental health, in both children and adults. They will focus on a 'what works' approach to achieving healthy weight and increasing physical activity. Amongst the issues that it will examine are:
- Evidence of the impact of diet on health and the most effective way of conveying healthy eating and drinking to the public in order to achieve a more healthy weight.
- Evidence of the impact of physical activity on health, including its impact independent of weight.
- Recent trends in body mass index, physical activity levels, diet and conditions linked to obesity and physical inactivity, including the availability and quality of data in this area. What are the current and future costs to our wider economy and to the NHS of obesity and physical inactivity?
- The effectiveness of recent policy action to improve physical activity levels and diet, and the evidence base supporting different interventions, including: National public health initiatives; local public health initiatives, including the role of Local Authorities, Health and Wellbeing Boards, schools and the Child Measurement Programme; the impact of broader factors on physical activity and diet, including transport, sport and recreation, town planning, and food labelling, marketing, availability, pricing and formulation.
- The role of schools, parents, Local Authorities and government in encouraging active play, travel and sport for children and young people, including: how do we encourage and enable greater physical activity in older adults and the disabled?
- The role of NHS organisations and Public Health England in improving levels of physical activity and diet, including: what services are currently provided and commissioned to encourage healthy eating and physical activity, and do these services meet current needs both in terms of availability, access and quality and is there sufficient evidence for what works best at local level?
- National and local accountability for improving physical activity levels and diet. What policy changes, including national or local regulation, taxation or financial incentives have been shown to be effective in other countries?
- Are we losing the fight and simply encouraging a 'normalisation' of obesity and is this distracting from prevention and early intervention?
The Committee welcomes written evidence on the subject. The deadline for submitting written evidence is Wednesday 17 December, at midday.