In almost 30 years, successive UK governments have proposed hundreds of wide-ranging policies to tackle obesity in England, but these are yet to have an impact. Living with obesity or excess weight is associated with long-term physical, psychological and social problems. Related health problems, such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancers, are estimated to cost NHS England at least £6.1 billion per year. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light additional risks for people living with obesity, such as an increased risk of hospitalisation. Is it the Governments job to act on obesity and should it even bother? How should it do so?

This event will be led by Dolly Theis. Dolly works in evidence-based policy at the MRC Epidemiology Unit in the University of Cambridge. Prior to her PhD she worked at the Centre for Social Justice think tank and in the House of Lords as a researcher. Dolly co-founded 50:50 Parliament's cross-party #AskHerToStand campaign which helps women get selected and elected, and is also an ambassador of military veterans charity Forward Assist and ex-offenders employment charity Tempus Novo.