UK ASO raps government shift on obesity policy 
Britain accused of "wrong priorities" on obesity  
 
Extreme concern over the UK government's health policy is voiced in OBESITY MATTERS,  the new magazine of the European Association for the Study of Obesity. 

In an unsigned report, the Association for the Study of Obesity warns: "It is quite clear that the incidence of obesity in the UK is increasing steadily and that the burden of illness associated with this has major economic consequences." 

"Obesity is second only to smoking as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, yet while the latter is part of one of the government's targets, obesity itself is ignored." 

It says the ASO believes strongly that: "Omitting obesity from the list of public health priorities is wrong and will delay progress in the development of effective strategies for obesity treatment and prevention." 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 Targets set by the previous government to reduce obesity prevalence to 1980 levels of 6-8% were dropped by the new Labour government in favour of concentrating on broader aspects of fitness and healthy lifestyles. 

EASO's new official publication 
 
 EASO's new magazine will be  issued at least twice as year as an official publication, and the association itself is to be reconstituted at a special meeting to be held in Paris next month. 

The first issue includes a feature on the IOTF and the WHO consultation report as well as a personal column from Prof Stephan Rössner, the incoming president of the International Association for the Study of Obesity and chair of the IOTF's communications group.