1.2.1. The Public Service Agreement (PSA) target on obesity is the Government's first, high level response to the major public health problem posed by the continuing rise in obesity. The target is challenging - 'halting the year on year rise in obesity among children aged under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole.' Halting the rise in obesity goes against recent trends - no other country has managed to achieve this and it will require a step change.
1.2.2. The target is jointly owned by the Department of Health (DH), the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), recognising that delivery will depend upon a concerted, joined-up effort across government and at local level. The target focuses upon preventing and managing obesity in children, but also recognises that wider action to tackle obesity at a population level will be critical to achieving this.
