OBESITY AND LOW CALORIE PRODUCTS

That this House notes with profound concern the recent description of the United Kingdom as the fat man of Europe; observes that the number of obese people in the UK increases by an average of more than 1,000 per month; recognises the immense costs to date and the predicted unsupportable rise in future costs associated with the health challenges of obesity, in particular diabetes type 2; welcomes the shift in UK consumer preference for low-calorie versions of carbonated drinks, with diet colas increasingly outselling their full sugar versions, saving an estimated 4,815,245,000,000 calories between 2000 and 2005; and invites the Government to join with primary care practitioners, slimming organisations, the wider food industry and other stakeholders to tackle obesity by welcoming, encouraging and promoting the greater awareness and wider take-up of low-calorie products as a readily available means of substantially reducing the problems of obesity and its associated conditions at no cost to the Exchequer and with no need for legislation.