The impact of body image on mental and physical health

Health and Social Care Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 1 Dec 2021 Closed: 6 Feb 2023 Parliament page
MPs will examine the relationship between people’s perception of their body image and their physical and mental health. They will consider how far people’s perception of body image can hinder access to NHS services and whether NHS training and Government messaging should be altered. Learn more about our work. Read more
19 Recommendations
7 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
7 Feb
2023
Report published
2 Aug
2022
Report published
8 Jun
2022
Correspondence
17 May
2022
Oral evidence
17 May
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Macmillan Room, Portcullis House
26 Apr
2022
Oral evidence
26 Apr
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
8 Mar
2022
Oral evidence
8 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
17 May 2022
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Charles King, lived experience witness Dr Angela Meadows · University of Essex Gillian Keegan MP · Department for Education Helen James · Nutriri Tam Fry · National Obesity Forum Zoe Seager · Department of Health and Social Care
26 Apr 2022
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Ashton Collins · Save Face Kim Booker, lived experience witness Lucy Thorpe · Mental Health Foundation Malcolm Phillips · Advertising Standards Authority Professor David Sines · Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners - The JCCP Professor James McVeigh · Manchester Metropolitan University Professor Jean McHale · University of Birmingham
8 Mar 2022
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Alex Light, Journalist and Influencer Dr Georgina Krebs · University College London Dr Stuart Flint · University of Leeds James Brittain-McVey, Lead Guitarist in the Vamps and Campaigner Nyome Nicholas-Williams, Model and Activist Professor Heather Widdows · University of Birmingham Professor Sandeep Ranote · Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The impact of body image on mental and physical … HC 114 2 Aug 2022 26 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
1 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - The impact of body…
Initiate comprehensive cross-government strategy to tackle growing problem of body dissatisfaction and its consequences.
We urge the Government to immediately initiate a comprehensive cross-government strategy that brings together, at the very least, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department for Education to tackle … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed on the need for cross-government work but stated there is no immediate need for a standalone strategy, as departments are already collaborating and existing initiatives like the Every Mind Matters campaign and the Healthy Child Programme address some issues. It committed to considering further actions within broader upcoming major conditions and suicide prevention strategies.
Department of Health and Social Care
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3 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - The impact of body…
Prioritise BDD diagnosis and treatment by updating curricula and embedding specialist practitioners.
We urge the Department to ensure more is done to make the diagnosis and treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) a priority. From a diagnostic perspective, we recommend that Health Education England update the IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) … Read more
Government Response
The government agreed that BDD diagnosis and treatment are a priority, stating this is addressed through current training for mental health professionals and NHS talking therapies (IAPT) in line with NICE guidance. It rejected compulsory BDD training for EMHPs as not clinically appropriate and confirmed body image is already covered in statutory RSHE/PSHE curricula.
Department of Health and Social Care
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4 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - The impact of body…
Explore using family hubs to educate young people and parents about body image and self-worth.
We call on the Government to better equip future generations and their families with the skills and resources required to tackle body image issues. These skills and resources include critical thinking, particularly when it comes to appraising images, and self- … Read more
Government Response
The government committed to improving families' access to resources for body image issues through the £301.75 million rollout of Family Hubs in half of local authorities across England. These hubs will provide guidance on mental health and emotional wellbeing support, connecting families to resources like the Every Mind Matters website and offering advice on nutrition.
Department of Health and Social Care
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12 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - The impact of body…
Government delays restrictions on unhealthy food multibuy deals, hindering obesity efforts.
We were extremely disappointed that during the inquiry, the Government delayed the introduction of restrictions on multibuy deals on food and drinks high in fat, salt, or sugar, including buy-one-get-one-free deals. It is essential that the Government prioritises interventions that … Read more
Government Response
The government details existing population-wide interventions, such as calorie labelling and location restrictions for high fat, salt, or sugar (HFSS) products, along with successes in reformulation programmes. However, it does not address the committee's disappointment over the delay in implementing multibuy restrictions or commit to their immediate introduction.
Department of Health and Social Care
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13 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - The impact of body…
Introduce annual holistic health and wellbeing assessments for all children and young people.
We propose that, in line with the introduction of Integrated Care Systems which seek to tackle health inequalities and focus on prevention, the Department ought to bolster the Healthy Child Programme, the programme for prevention and public health of children … Read more
Government Response
The government details existing work by OHID on person-centred language for obesity and the Better Health campaign, and mentions that the National Child Measurement Programme is trialling new approaches to help parents and professionals discuss weight supportively. However, it does not commit to introducing annual holistic health and wellbeing assessments for every child or specifically bolstering the Healthy Child Programme.
Department of Health and Social Care
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24 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - The impact of body…
Establish a 'Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures' safety taskforce for coordinated regulation and patient safety.
We recommend that the Department establish a ‘Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures’ safety taskforce that comprises each of the regulatory bodies that have input into the sector, including the MHRA, the nine statutory bodies, the ASA and stakeholders like the JCCP, Save … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already has effective working relationships with various regulatory bodies and key industry stakeholders. They will continue to work with these groups to ensure consumer safety, thus implicitly declining the recommendation to establish a new safety taskforce.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 19 classified
Accepted 6
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 10
Rejected 4
Total 19 recs + 7 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
8 Jun 2022 Correspondence from the Minister of State for Care and Mental Health following up from the evidence session on The impact of body image on mental and physical health on 17 May 2022
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