Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS has issued guidance on the safety of dieting schemes.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. This includes reviewing the evidence base which informs recommendations for the treatment of overweight and obese adults, including the safety of diets such as Very Low Calorie Diets.

Public Health England provides advice on diet and nutrition for the general population based on evidence considered by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. This is portrayed through the eatwell plate and Change 4 Life campaign, which supports individuals and families to eat a healthy balanced diet. There is also information available on NHS Choices website provided by the British Dietetic Association, which discusses the most popular diets for the general public.