UK Charity Number: 1059686
Website: http://www.weightconcern.com/
Stated Aims
THE PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES FOR WHICH WEIGHT CONCERN IS ESTABLISHED ARE: (A) TO ADVANCE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE CAUSES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OBESITY; (B) TO IDENTIFY MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR OBESITY; (C) TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN THE MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF OBESITY.
Context
Lobbies government for measures to defuse the "obesity time-bomb" that will supposedly explode in 2010. Its campaign revolves around behaviour modification, legislation and requesting more money for obesity programmes.
According to its website:
The government’s intentions are admirable but they do not know how to change people’s behaviour, and are in danger of wasting money promoting unhelpful initiatives. Weight Concern calls on the Department of Health to spend public money wisely and invest in organisations like our own.
It is a supporter of Sustain, it supports plans for the state to pay people to lose weight, and is extremely vocal on every issue regarding obesity and diet.
Details
Created in 2002 with a Department of Health grant, Weight Concern continues to lobby the very people who fund them.
Its 2006/07 accounts show a total income of £161,414, of which:
- Department of Health: £65,414
- Central Office for Information: £9,359
- —
- Total £74,773 (46.3% of all income)
It received just £1,520 in public donations.
(In 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration banned the obesity drug Rimonabault, after it was linked to a spate of suicides. In Britain, Weight Concern publicly defended the drug, claiming the risk of suicide was "low". In addition to its state-funding, Weight Concern is financed by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.)
