The anti-obesity drive. In association with Kellogg's, GlaxoSmithKline and SlimFast

Obesity is "probably the biggest public health threat that we face" said Alan Johnson this morning, planting the issue firmly at the top of the Health Secretary's agenda. Over the past year, honourable members on the All Party Group on Obesity have been diligently raising the profile on obesity in the Commons and Lords. The Parliamentarians involved have no doubt acted honourably in the nation's best interests. But interesting how, according to the Parliament website, the All Party Group on Obesity is looked after by the Association for the Study of Obesity* (which gives it newsletters, mailings, funds for an annual reception and organising meetings). And how is it funded? The 2007 sponsors include GlaxoSmithKline, Kellogg's, Masterfoods, Roche, Rosemary Conley, Slim-Fast, Slimming World and WeightWatchers, it says. Now why would they want to be involved?

*It's mission: "To provide training to health professionals and others involved in the prevention and treatment of obesity and to offer an ongoing forum for the sharing of scientific expertise and clinical practice through the provision of high quality scientific and educational meetings".

Comments

[AspieMum]

Take a look at the list of 'interested parties' listed with the NICE guidelines on obesity. You'll never guess who pops up there too. Is it right to be recommending a 'treatment' with a 90%+ failure rate, all nicely orchestrated by the very industries which rely on such 'failure' for the repeat business?

[Curly]

Get fat, get paid, buy more products from the sponsors and allow the government to teach you how to cook them.

What a strategy!

There are, of course, more simplistic methods of addressing the problem of obesity.