England heads for obesity disaster as minister frets about nanny state

Government has shelved policies that could have helped to change landscape weighted in favour of unhealthy food options

• Health of England's children at risk from policy inaction on obesity

Less than three weeks into her new role as health secretary, Victoria Atkins left health campaigners aghast when she suggested her approach to tackling obesity would largely focus on dietary advice.

Obesity is a devastating public health problem harming millions of people in the UK that will never be resolved by tips on what to eat and what to avoid. Two in three adults are overweight or obese and the problem costs 100bn a year.