Select committee: Health and Social Care Committee
Conclusion 13
Second Report - The impact of body image on mental and physical health
Published 2 Aug 2022
Paragraph 86
Addressed to Department of Health and Social Care
Health and Social Care Committee The impact of body image on mental and physical health All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
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 and young people aged 0–19-year-old and their families. We propose that the Government introduce annual holistic health and wellbeing assessments for every child and young person, using the existing workforce of school nurses, health visitors, as well as those in associated roles such as community paediatrics and primary care. These assessments should monitor a range of physical and mental health markers including, but not limited to, weight and mental wellbeing. They should provide an opportunity to explore the context in which the young person and their family live, how these circumstances can relate to their health. They should aim to engage the wider family (if appropriate, depending on age) to ensure early detection of potential health risks, with signposting to appropriate services if required.
From: Health and Social Care Committee, Second Report - The impact of body image on mental and physical health (HC 114), paragraph 86, 2 August 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 7 February 2023 (deadline 2 October 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government "strongly agrees" there is a need for cross-government work on body image, but says there is not an immediate need for a standalone strategy and that it will not meet the committee's timeline for licensing non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
- On eating disorders, it expects them to be considered within the major conditions strategy (interim report due in the summer), so "does not intend to publish a separate national eating disorder strategy". It accepts the research part of the recommendation.
- It agrees that diagnosis and treatment of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a priority, but says this is "best achieved through the current training, referral routes and curriculum".
- On non-surgical cosmetic procedures, it is taking forward a licensing scheme but says it "will not be able to meet the timeline recommended by the committee". DHSC will agree the procedures in scope and communicate a plan for delivery by July 2023.
- On screen time, it says much more research is needed before national guidance. DHSC will work with DCMS and DfE on gathering evidence "before deciding whether to progress with a nationwide public health campaign", which would be contingent on future funding settlements.