Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proposed expansion of weight loss surgery in England is a long-term strategy for public health; and what effect they predict its implementation will have.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published its draft updated clinical guideline on the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children on 11 July, proposing the expansion of weight loss surgery. The guideline is out for consultation until the 8 August and NICE will take stakeholders’ comments into account in developing the final guideline, which is scheduled for publication later in the year.

We have a well-developed and wide ranging programme of actions to reduce levels of obesity. These include working with a wide range of partners including Public Health England, NHS England, government departments including the Department for Transport through the Public Health Responsibility Deal.