Guidance to tackle obesity at a local level using whole system approaches was initiated by NICE in 2009. The work was put on hold in November 2010 and reviewed as part of the Government‟s obesity strategy work programme. The revised scope has a stronger focus on local, community-wide best practice. It addresses both process and outcomes.

Before the development of this guidance was put on hold, the Programme Development Group (PDG) for this work met on four occasions and a series of evidence reviews was completed. The PDG also invited a number of experts in “whole system” or “community-wide” working to provide testimony at one of their four meetings from July 2010 to November 2010.