Slimming World's response to the House of Lords, Food, Diet and Obesity Committee Report

As with all recommendations that help people to live healthy and happy lives, Slimming World welcomes the report, Recipe for health: a plan to fix our broken food system. We also support the House of Lords Committee on Food, Diet and Obesity in calling on the Government to action the findings to support people in having access to, and consuming, healthier food and drink products, while avoiding ultra-processed foods (UPFs). 

We were extremely pleased to see the report recommending the development of an ambitious strategy for maternal nutrition. Slimming World is the only weight-management organisation that works with the Royal College of Midwives to support pregnant or breastfeeding women, with the backing and ongoing recommendation of their midwife or GP, to make healthy changes to their diet and activity and to manage their weight healthily during this time. Our research with midwives found though that only 51% feel confident advising women on weight management during pregnancy. Alongside maternal nutrition, we believe the Government should introduce training for all healthcare professionals who interact with patients needing support to manage their weight, providing them with the skills to raise the issue of obesity and weight management sensitively and effectively. 

We also feel clear guidance on the difference between what constitutes a UPF and what is a processed food but can be consumed as part of a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet is essential, to avoid misinterpretation and confusion. With 55 years of experience in helping people to lose and maintain a healthy weight, at Slimming World, we’ve always encouraged our members to eat more fresh, whole foods, and cook from scratch, where possible. In fact, research into members eating habits confirms this - the British Nutrition Foundation found that the average Slimming World member eats more portions of fruit and veg a day than the general public. Food Optimising, Slimming World’s healthy eating plan, also encourages members to cut down on foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat, like chocolate and biscuits, which are predominantly categorised as UPFs.  

The committee and subsequent report explore the links between UPFs with rising obesity rates and diet-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The recommendations to the Government include: 

• a salt and sugar reformulation tax on food manufacturers, using the revenue raised to support lowering the cost of healthier foods,  
• a complete ban on the advertising of less healthy food, 
• reviewing and increasing the eligibility for the Healthy Start and free school meals schemes, 
• and requiring food manufacturers to report on the healthiness of their sales. 

The report also concluded that more investment is needed to research the links between UPFs and health conditions, reviewing healthy eating guidance based on any findings. We will continue to monitor the growing interest and research in this area and should there be any changes to government or UK and European health bodies’ guidance on the consumption of UPFs, we will advise our members and adapt our resources accordingly.