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Long-term ambition on obesity

In October 2007, the Government set a new long-term ambition to tackle obesity.

Our ambition is to reverse the rising tide of obesity and overweight in the population, by enabling everyone to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Our initial focus will be on children: By 2020, we aim to reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children to 2000 levels.

The Government is committed to tackling obesity in both children and adults.  The new ambition is bolder and recognises the need to go further and faster. It focuses on healthy weight, which allows us to tackle overweight as well as obesity. It also has more emphasis on overweight and obesity in the broader population (whilst maintaining a priority focus on children) and reflects the recognition of the need for long-term commitment with joined up action across Whitehall and society more widely.