Responding to the Government’s latest obesity strategy, Helen Donovan, RCN Professional Lead for Public Health, said:
“Nursing staff see the impact of obesity every day. These policies are long overdue and something for which nursing staff have long campaigned.
“Obesity is a contributing factor in a number of detrimental, long-term conditions like diabetes and heart disease. There is increasing evidence obesity is also a risk factor for COVID-19. There are clear links between obesity, associated poor health outcomes, and wider social inequalities such as poverty and education.
“We are pleased to see the Prime Minister take our nation’s health seriously. But, the Government’s work shouldn’t stop here to reduce obesity rates. Policies need to be backed by substantial investment to make up for cuts in recent years.
“A strategy to reduce wider health inequalities which have been exposed by this pandemic would help councils plan services that are accessible to the people who need them.”
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