We are proud to announce that the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Dietary Health was launched yesterday at a parliamentary event in Portcullis House (Wednesday 20 May), attended by over 30 MPs and Peers.
Co‑chaired by Marie Goldman MP, Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford, and Jim Dickson MP, Labour MP for Dartford, this new cross-party forum brings together MPs, Peers, charities, campaigners and academics to inform and strengthen parliamentary debate on policies to improve dietary health.
The APPG includes MPs and Peers from half a dozen political parties, reflecting strong cross-party support for improving dietary health and a shared determination to turn the tide on dietary related diseases.
The Obesity Health Alliance will be providing the Secretariat for this new APPG. The APPG, and the Secretariat, will receive no funding from any for-profit entity to protect the work of this Group from commercial interference, and the APPG will not directly meet with any for-profit entities.
The APPG will focus on the health impacts of the commercial food system and population-level interventions that can effectively and equitably prevent dietary‑related illness. With the Government’s ‘moonshot to end the obesity epidemic’ set out in the NHS 10 Year Plan last year, the APPG has a clear and timely agenda. Its initial focus will be on supporting the delivery of these commitments and ensuring they translate into meaningful action to improve health outcomes.
Yesterday’s event provided an opportunity for APPG officers and parliamentarians to meet with over two dozen health charities, Royal Colleges and community groups working to address the impacts of poor dietary health. Attendees were:
- British Heart Foundation
- Diabetes UK
- Kidney Research UK
- Arthritis UK
- Nesta
- British Dental Association
- First Steps Nutrition
- British Dietetic Association
- The Royal College of Physicians
- World Cancer Research UK
- Food Active
- Sustain
- The Royal College of Pediatrics & Child Health
- Nourishing Our Future
- The Early Years Food Coalition
- The British Medical Association
- The Association of Directors of Public Health
- Action on Salt & Sugar
- Alexandra Rose Charity
- Bite Back
- Food Foundation
- Recipe for Change
- HENRY (Healthy Eating for the Really Young)
Jim Dickson MP, Labour MP for Dartford, said:
“Dietary related illness places a huge and growing burden on our NHS, our economy and families across the country. This APPG provides a vital opportunity for parliamentarians from all parties to work together, guided by evidence and expertise, to drive the bold, preventative action needed to improve dietary health for everyone. I’m proud to co‑chair this group and to work with colleagues across Parliament, the third sector and beyond to champion policies that make the healthier choices, the easier choice.”
Marie Goldman MP, Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford said:
“Every child deserves the healthiest possible start in life, and families need the right support to help them thrive. Good diet underpins this, yet too many families are facing too many barriers to living a healthy life. This APPG will provide an important cross‑party forum to bring together evidence, expertise and lived experience, so we can push for the policies needed to give children the best start in life and support families to thrive.”
Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said:
“I’m hugely grateful to MPs and Peers from across Parliament for the strong support shown for this new APPG, and to our members whose expertise and collaboration make this work possible. Together, we have a real opportunity to strengthen the political focus on dietary health and to drive forward the commitments outlined in the NHS 10 Year Plan and beyond.”
The Obesity Health Alliance is proud to act as the secretariat for the APPG and receives no commercial funding or sponsorship. For more information about the APPG, please click here.
If you are an academic, charity, parliamentarian or campaigner and would like to find out more about the APPG, please contact Alfred Slade at alfred.slade@obesityhealthalliance.org.uk.