We drove down smoking; now we need the same resolve on obesity

In February 2026, the UK government unveiled the National Cancer Plan, marking its first comprehensive cancer strategy in a decade. However, as Cancer Research UK Prevention Lead Kruti Shrotri points out, the success of this plan hinges on one crucial aspect: reducing obesity rates. With a staggering three in ten cancer cases in England preventable, and smoking rates on the decline, obesity has emerged as the leading cause of preventable cancer.

Alarmingly, nearly seven out of ten adults in the UK are now overweight or obese, with rates of obesity among children in their final year of primary school in England reaching nearly four in ten, particularly in deprived communities.

The evidence is irrefutable: being overweight or obese significantly raises the risk of at least 13 types of cancer, and children who are obese are five times more likely to remain obese in adulthood. While weight-loss medications, such as GLP-1 drugs, could aid some individuals in achieving healthier weights, they are merely a piece of the puzzle. To make genuine progress, we must tackle obesity at its roots by preventing it in the first place.

The UK's food environment has undergone drastic changes over the past four decades. Highly processed foods high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) have become heavily marketed, widely available, and often cheaper than healthier alternatives. Coupled with dwindling opportunities for physical activity and broader social and economic pressures, this has created an 'obesogenic environment' that makes maintaining a healthy weight increasingly challenging. Public health experts have dubbed this environment the 'obesogenic environment.'

To effectively address this issue, action must span multiple levels of government. Nationally, stricter regulations on the marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods could curb consumer demand, while making healthier food more affordable and accessible. Education and campaigns could enhance public understanding of nutritious diets.

Locally, communities could gain greater authority to limit fast-food outlets, especially near schools. Additionally, improved walking and cycling infrastructure, alongside more green spaces, could promote more active lifestyles.

The government has made some significant strides, including the introduction of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy in 2018, which drove significant reductions in sugar content in many soft drinks. Moreover, restrictions on junk-food advertising on TV and online, initially announced in 2020, are anticipated to have a positive impact. However, the scale of change must match the scale of the challenge.

Loopholes introduced following industry lobbying have diminished the projected impact of advertising restrictions, while progress on mandatory reporting and targets for healthier food sales for large food companies appears to have stalled, despite government commitments.

History provides a valuable lesson. In the 1950s, smoking rates were alarmingly high, with over 60% of men and nearly 40% of women smoking, even after research had established the link between tobacco and cancer. However, through sustained, evidence-based policy action spanning decades, smoking rates have since plummeted to around 11%.

The central takeaway is that consistent, well-researched policy action yields results. While there is still work to be done, such as properly implementing the Tobacco and Vapes Act and providing smoking cessation support for those who smoke, especially in more deprived communities, the lesson remains clear: sustained, evidence-led policy action works.

Civil society organizations have vowed to work towards less than 1% of people smoking by 2040. The path to a smokefree future, though not easy, is within reach.