Landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law, marking major win for public health
The Health Foundation responds to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill gaining Royal Assent.
Risk factors Learn more about the leading risk factors for premature deaths and preventable ill health
Smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity and harmful alcohol use are the leading risk factors for premature deaths and preventable ill health.
Our work looks at how these contribute to health inequalities and assesses the impact of policies to reduce them.
Scottish election briefing: Improving health and reducing inequalities
Ahead of the Scottish elections in May 2026, the Health Foundation has produced a briefing providing our recommendations for progress in several key areas to improve health and tackle inequalities: yo...
GLP‑1 drug prescriptions for obesity
-
Analysis
|
-
9 February 2026
|
About 8 mins
- Analysis
- 9 February 2026
About 8 mins
Our analysis shows clear patterns in the uptake of private GLP‑1 weight-loss treatments that could shape who benefits first from access to these drugs.
Why the new junk food advertising ban won’t solve the growing childhood obesity problem
- Blog
About 5 mins
Childhood obesity is an environmental systems failure; a narrow junk food ad ban will not correct it.
Health Foundation response to the junk food advertising ban
'Junk food ad ban welcome, but loopholes threaten childhood obesity fight', says Samantha Field, Senior Fellow (Prevention) at the Health Foundation.
Risk factors
-
Topic overview
|
About 3 mins
- Topic overview
About 3 mins
In parts of the UK, people are dying years too soon. Smoking, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and harmful alcohol and drug use are major risk factors in preventable illness.
GLP-1 receptor agonists: a wake-up call for the food system, not a silver bullet for obesity
- Blog
About 5 mins
New weight loss medications won’t solve obesity alone, but they could spark the regulatory shift our food environment desperately needs, writes Samantha Field.
Inequalities in smoking rates
-
Indicator
|
-
7 November 2025
|
About 2 mins
- Indicator
- 7 November 2025
About 2 mins
Despite a continued decline in the number of people smoking, it remains the leading cause of preventable ill health and death in the UK.
Trends in smoking rates
-
Indicator
|
-
7 November 2025
|
About 2 mins
- Indicator
- 7 November 2025
About 2 mins
Despite a continued decline in the number of people smoking, it remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in the UK.
Inequalities among children who are overweight or obese
-
Indicator
|
-
7 November 2025
|
About 2 mins
- Indicator
- 7 November 2025
About 2 mins
Obesity and being overweight are major risk factors for a range of long-term health conditions.
