Slimming On Referral Programme

EDM number 1590 in 2005-06, proposed by Austin Mitchell on 07/02/2006.

That this House welcomes the focus of the White Paper on Public Health on the need to tackle the growing problems of overweight and obesity; welcomes in this context the slimming on referral project developed by Slimming World, in association with primary care trusts; notes that this slimming on referral programme offers overweight patients free membership of a local group at reduced cost to the National Health Service; observes that the required target of between five per cent. and 10 per cent. weight loss for health improvement is achieved by a high percentage of patients participating in this programme at a net cost to the NHS substantially lower than many other options including the use of prescription drugs; commends the slimming on referral approach to the Department of Health and to primary care trusts and strategic health authorities developing obesity strategies; and invites Ministers to promote slimming on referral as one of the range of legitimate, scientifically validated options for weight reduction that are being taken forward by the Department of Health.

This motion has been signed by a total of 30 MPs.