The cross-party group of MPs will investigate what public health interventions have been the most effective at reducing obesity and the consumption of less healthy foods, examining why existing policies relating to food and diet have not been successful.

The inquiry will explore what more the Government and food industry should do to address social inequalities and deliver on the Government's Food Strategy aim of improving access to affordable, healthy food.

The committee will also turn its attention to treatment offered to those who are overweight or living with obesity. MPs will delve into challenges and opportunities weight loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro present to the NHS and to individuals. 

While it has been estimated that 1.5m people in the UK are using weight management medications, the Government's 10-Year Health Plan stated that there ‘is a risk that these medications become the preserve of those who can afford them despite those without the financial means having higher need'.

The Health and Social Care Committee's inquiry will examine whether weight loss injections are cost-effective to the NHS and how they compare on this front to other treatments.  

The Committee will explore how well weight management services are functioning in the NHS and whether they provide fair access to treatment. 

In 2022, 64% of adults in England were either overweight or living with obesity while the Government pledged to ‘launch a moonshot to end the obesity epidemic' in its 10-Year Health Plan.

The committee has launched a call for evidence and a survey, which will inform this inquiry and is inviting written evidence submissions 11.59pm on 28 August.