Abstract

Summary:

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a growing threat to population health, productivity society and the economy in the UK and globally. The UK has some of the highest levels of overweight and obesity in western Europe, which are driving the growing incidence of type 2 diabetes and associated metabolic disorders. Excess calorie intake is the key driver of obesity and thus a key risk for type 2 diabetes. The future costs of these conditions will have devastating impacts on health services and economic productivity. And these impacts will most seriously affect future generations.

While people living with established diabetes or obesity need appropriate treatment and advice to reduce risk of adverse consequences, such efforts will make little difference to the growing epidemic. To reverse the epidemic requires urgent interventions at societal level to change risk levels for whole populations. The key underlying drivers of unhealthy diet lie in the commercial food system. In this lecture I will discuss what needs to change, why it needs to change and how it can be changed to benefit present and future generations.