Who should take action?

• Directors of public health and public health teams
• Local authority communications leads
• Chambers of commerce
• Environmental health departments
• Council leaders and elected members

Actions

Public health coordinators, with support from directors of public health, should establish methods for involving business and social enterprises in the implementation of the local obesity strategy. This includes, for example, caterers, leisure providers, weight management groups, the local chamber of commerce, food retailers and workplaces. They should consider developing local activities based on national initiatives to achieve this.

Public health teams and local authority communications leads should develop mechanisms of governance for working with business and social enterprises that are in the public interest. For example, they could address issues around appropriate sponsorship or competing priorities, with transparent mechanisms to address real or perceived conflicts of interest.

All of the above should encourage all businesses and social enterprises operating in the local area to recognise their corporate social responsibilities in relation to health and wellbeing. This should be in relation to:

• employees – for example, supporting and encouraging employees (and employees' families) to adopt a healthy diet or developing and implementing active travel plans to encourage walking and cycling​

• products – for example, ensuring the range and content of the food and drinks they sell does not create an incentive to overeat and gives people the opportunity to eat healthily​

• wider social interests – such as actively supporting wider community initiatives on health and wellbeing.

See also NICE guidance on preventing cardiovascular disease and NICE pathways on obesity, preventing harmful drinking, physical activity, walking and cycling and type 2 diabetes.