Government pulls plug on obesity group

The Westminster government disbanded its expert advisory group on obesity following disagreements over the direction of policy.

Professor Klim McPherson, of Oxford University, a member of the group, said yesterday ministers “ignored” its suggestions and instead focused on food and drink companies.

He said “too many” members of the group had been critical of the government’s approach to dealing with the industry, which is designed to bring a partnership approach to tackling public health.

He said the government was not interested in what it could do to help people but more concerned with what industry could do.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has come under fire from health campaigners over his “woefully inadequate” plan for dealing with obesity.

Chef Jamie Oliver said the strategy was “worthless” and dismissed it as “a farce”.