Tackling Obesity in England - National Audit Office

TACKLING OBESITY IN ENGLANDaccountable to Health Ministers. The Agency has nospecific objective to address the effect of diet on weightgain or obesity, though the following objectives of theAgency are relevant to encouraging healthy eating:nencouraging innovation and diversity in the range offoods available, backed up by clear and informativelabelling to enable consumers to make properlyinformed choices.nnnto define a healthy diet (in other words, the ranges ofdietary intakes which minimise the risk of adverseeffects including nutrient deficiencies) and to putthis in the context of other lifestyle factors such asexercise;to ensure that information provided to consumersabout the food they buy is accurate, adequate andnot misleading; andto secure the greatest possible level of consumerchoice and value for money.4.23 The core activities of the Agency include:nnnncommissioning research into human nutrition andthe factors that affect food choice;providing up-to-date educational material andadvice on healthy eating for health professionals andthe public;maintaining and disseminating information on thenutrient composition of food;monitoring the diet and nutritional status of people;and4.24 Figure 20 shows the main ways in which theDepartment of Health and the Food Standards Agencywork together to identify and promote healthy eatingpatterns.4.25 Prior to the establishment of the Food Standards Agency,the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food wasalready active in pursuing research topics related to theissue of obesity and its prevention. A strategic review ofresearch undertaken in 1996 identified the desirabilityof the Department of Health establishing a cross-cuttinggroup to co-ordinate research on obesity.4.26 The Food Standards Agency now works closely with theDepartment of Health to commission research onnutrition and the effects of diet on health. Research thatmight inform both food and health policy is alsoconsidered by the Diet and Health Research FundersGroup, which meets annually to discuss researchprogrammes, exchange information and explorelinkages and possible overlaps. The group includesrepresentatives of the Department of Health, the FoodStandards Agency and the related Research Councils.20 The links between health and dietMinistry of Agriculture,Fisheries and FoodTo provide good qualityfood which meetsconsumers' requirementsDepartment of HealthTo improve healthand reduce healthinequalitiesTo promote andfacilitate healthy eatingFood Standards AgencyTo improve the diet of thewhole populationHealth DevelopmentAgencyTo provide evidence andguidance on what worksto improve healthn Concordats providing framework for co-operationn Regular consulation on topics of mutual interestn Sharing information on scientific research/survey datan Joint planning and funding of surveys and researchn Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutritionn Inter-Ministerial GroupSource:National Audit Officepart four37