Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 26 September (HL1920), how they reconcile the proposed "hard-hitting national action on obesity" described in the NHS Five Year Forward View with the Government Equalities Office body image programme which promotes positive representation of a diversity of body types.

The Government recognises that obesity and poor body confidence are both part of a wider public health issue. This is the relationship that people have to their bodies, and how they integrate physical and emotional wellbeing. There is a strong relationship between poor body image, disordered eating and weight problems. Research shows that people with low levels of body satisfaction are more likely to gain weight over time (regardless of starting BMI); whereas those who have higher levels of body satisfaction are less likely to gain weight.

This is partly because people with low body image are less likely to be physically active and more likely to use unhealthy weight control behaviours. Poor body image is also linked with depression and low self-esteem. People who do not feel good about their bodies are less likely to look after them, so supporting people to value themselves and take care of their bodies is crucial in tackling obesity.

The Government is committed to tackling obesity and tackling the causes of poor body image. The Public Health England Change4Life campaign has been widely acclaimed for its positive approach and for not using “fat shaming” imagery. Instead, it focuses on motivating healthy behaviour change rather than achievement of a particular body type.