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Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

The impact of body image on mental and physical health

Status: Closed Opened: 1 Dec 2021 Closed: 6 Feb 2023 19 recommendations 7 conclusions 1 report

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.

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - The impact of body image on mental and phys… HC 114 2 Aug 2022 26 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
5 Recommendation Second Report - The impact of body imag… Rejected

Review training for Mental Health Practitioners to include early signs of conditions related to body image.

We commend the Government’s work to date to introduce Education Mental Health Practitioners within school-based Mental Health Support Teams across the country, as well as the commitment to have a Mental Health Lead teacher in schools. We recommend that the Government review the training of these practitioners to ensure it … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected reviewing EMHP training to include spotting early signs of body image issues, believing current arrangements are fit for purpose. It provided an update on the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), with over 500 planned by 2024 covering 36% of pupils, …
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Department of Health and Social Care
6 Conclusion Second Report - The impact of body imag… Rejected

Coordinated approach essential to understand and tackle the growing issue of eating disorders.

While we commend the funding set aside for eating disorders to date and the actions taken by the Government so far, we are now of the opinion that a more co- ordinated approach is essential to properly understand and tackle this growing issue

Government response AI summary
The government rejected publishing a separate national eating disorder strategy, stating that eating disorders will be considered as part of a broader major conditions strategy under development. It noted NHS England's £54 million investment to expand eating disorder services for children and young people and …
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Department of Health and Social Care
23 Recommendation Second Report - The impact of body imag… Rejected

Review dermal filler licensing to make them prescription-only substances, like Botox.

We recommend that the Department review the licencing of dermal fillers to be prescription-only substances, in line with Botox, in order to provide more protection for people undertaking procedures involving dermal fillers.

Government response AI summary
The government rejects the recommendation to make dermal fillers prescription-only, stating there are no current plans to do so because they are classified as medical devices rather than medicinal products like Botox. However, they note that the MHRA intends to introduce more stringent rules for …
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Department of Health and Social Care
26 Recommendation Second Report - The impact of body imag… Rejected

Mandate display of kitemark and warning logo on all non-surgical cosmetic procedure advertisements.

We recommend that the new licensing regime should include the requirement to display a kitemark and a warning logo on any advertisement for treatments that fall within the regime’s scope. (Paragraph 129) 38 The impact of body image on mental and physical health Read more

Government response AI summary
The government implicitly rejects the recommendation for a kitemark and warning logo, citing existing robust regulations for cosmetic surgery advertisements (e.g., ban on targeting under-18s) and explaining that a BSI Kitemark is not a prescribed requirement for medical devices, which follow CE or UKCA marking.
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Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

3 sessions
Date Witnesses
17 May 2022 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 View ↗
26 Apr 2022 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 View ↗
8 Mar 2022 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

20 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alex Light, Journalist and Influencer — 1
Ashton Collins · Director Save Face 1
Charles King, lived experience witness — 1
Dr Angela Meadows · Lecturer, Department of Psychology University of Essex 1
Dr Georgina Krebs · Associate Professor in Young Person's Mental Heal… University College London 1
Dr Stuart Flint · Associate Professor of Psychology University of Leeds 1
Gillian Keegan MP · Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister … Department for Education 1
Helen James · Founder Nutriri 1
James Brittain-McVey, Lead Guitarist in the Vamps and Campaigner — 1
Kim Booker, lived experience witness — 1
Lucy Thorpe · Head of Policy Mental Health Foundation 1
Malcolm Phillips · Regulatory Policy Manager Advertising Standards Authority 1
Nyome Nicholas-Williams, Model and Activist — 1
Professor David Sines · Chair Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners - The JCCP 1
Professor Heather Widdows · Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Trans… University of Birmingham 1
Professor James McVeigh · Professor in Substance Use Epidemiology Manchester Metropolitan University 1
Professor Jean McHale · Professor of Healthcare Law and Director of the C… University of Birmingham 1
Professor Sandeep Ranote · Children's Mental Health Lead Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership 1
Tam Fry · Chairman National Obesity Forum 1
Zoe Seager · Deputy Director, Mental Health Policy and Delivery Department of Health and Social Care 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
8 Jun 2022 — Correspondence from the Minister of State for Care and Mental Health following …