Lauren Bowes Byatt
Deputy Director, A Healthy Life at Nesta. Trustee at Hestia. Former civil servant. Geordie now obessed with north London. Views my own.
- Getting a policy announced is hard, but getting it 'done' is even harder! It's been 6 months since the Government announced the Healthy Food Standard - inspired by a @nestauk.bsky.social policy. And we haven't heard much on their plans to implement. Read more👉 www.nesta.org.uk/blog/six-thi...
- Spotted this in book i'm reading. It's interesting how many ppl objected to things that feel quite normal now (more cafes, pubs & shops open more) What is it that gets us to this? Just time, policy change, public engagement... ?
- I'm in @thegrocer.bsky.social talking about how the Healthy Food Standard could be a game changer for obesity Key is: obesity levels are so high, we need big impact policy. This could deliver c20% reduction, by setting a target to encourage businesses to sell healthier food 👉 tinyurl.com/ydmcr627
- Reposted by Lauren Bowes ByattObesity rates have doubled in the last 30 years. This stems from our food environment: the food that’s available, affordable and promoted to us. In our latest report, we look at how health targets for large out-of-home food businesses could help to improve health. ⤵️
- Yesterday I gave evidence to the health and social care committee on healthy food (on behalf of @nestauk.bsky.social) 🔑My KEY message: we need the HIGH impact policies to tackle obesity crisis that focus on business incentives over individual responsibility Watch it 👉https://tinyurl.com/76xb3z7w
- 📆 Next month we're running a policy conference - Policy Live! On health 🩺 - we're excited to announce that @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social will be joining us. And we'll be running events on healthy diets/obesity, neighbourhood health and AI. Sign up here 👉 bit.ly/4m0j4fx
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- Earlier this month, the govt published the 10yr health plan. A 'moonshot to end the obesity epidemic' was launched. 🚀 BUT.. what do the public actually think about this? We did some work (pre 10 year plan announcement) with @moreincommonuk.bsky.social on this. More below 👇 🧵1/6
- People do think obesity is a priority issue and want Government (Westminster in this instance) to do more! Echoing similar findings from @oha-updates.bsky.social, @ippr.org (via @amygandon.bsky.social & Yasmeen) and @healthfoundation.bsky.social... 2/6
- Join me & this lovely lot tomorrow to talk about prevention within the 10 year health plan 👇
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- It's a busy news week at Nesta!... We've also published new findings on costs of obesity to the economy, society, & the NHS 💰
- Excited to see! It's not everyday you help get a policy over the line... Government has adopted healthy food standard - based on a policy developed by Nesta. It'll see food businesses encouraged to get healthier food on our shelves and in our diets. Read more👉https://tinyurl.com/43fnpcm5
- We’ve worked up this piece explaining all about what preventing ill health actually means.. give it a read! 👇
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- I've really loved coming to work at Nesta. Partly because it made me check my ways of working and getting 'stuff' done, after time in govt. Being more creative to problem solving. Our work fast & iterate approach is key... Read more about that below 👇
- The UK govt needs to adopt a different way of working to achieve its bold new missions. Policies need to be reviewed and improved via a test and learn approach. BIT + @nestauk.bsky.social new playbook explains this approach and how it can deliver impactful solutions 👇 www.bi.team/publications...
- It's the hot topic - UPFs! We looked into whether thats a better definition of health or not... we found its much of a muchness. Our current definitions of healthy probably have it covered, while we should ofc see how the science develops on UPF too.
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- Reposted by Lauren Bowes ByattAlcohol is a significant but overlooked part of our diets -empty calories with big health impacts. Thanks to evidence from Scotland we know MUP ⬇️ consumption. It's one policy with co-benefits for alcohol harm and obesity. Thanks @nestauk.bsky.social for new research & blog 👇
- I'm often asked about the 'hidden' calories we drink. We had a look👉 shorturl.at/54rJl c5% of daily calories comes from booze. Similar to medium glass of wine. Cutting this down would improve our diets & wider health The policies are already known - intro MUP in England, as we saw in Scot & Wales.
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- What a stellar line-up for the food strategy! But I would say that given I'm thrilled to see Nesta included too... :) 👉 www.gov.uk/government/n...
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- Reposted by Lauren Bowes ByattOverdiagnosis of mental disorders is making headlines again, this time thanks to Wes Streeting. But it is true? (thread) www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
- 100%! People operate within structures and systems that exist. It's rare ppl set out with the purpose to do a bad job - often the environment they operate within doesn't allow better performance.
- 🚨Happening now. Listen in here 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6v6...
- Lovely post from Ravi, covering lots of our work! Key things: 1️⃣You can't solve obesity by telling ppl to diet more. It doesn't work 2️⃣You need small sustained changes that don't take joy out of food 3️⃣It's not about nannying. No one wants higher taxes to pay for issues that could have been prevented
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📢 New blog post 📢 💼Why are working class applicants less likely to be hired? blogs.ucl.ac.uk/cepeo/2025/0... Following on from our @nuffieldfoundation.org report today’s blog post focuses on why working class young people (yp) are less likely to be offered jobs than their more advantaged peers - 📆 EVENT: On Tuesday we're excited to be talking about Amsterdam's healthy weight programme and what we can learn from it... come join us in-person at Nesta offices or online! Sign up here 👉 www.nesta.org.uk/event/what-c...
- Fabulous blog from my colleague Kate explaining why and how we at @nestauk.bsky.social developed a blueprint for halving obesity… read here 👉 www.nesta.org.uk/blog/creatin...
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- We’re catching up on only connect & just watched a semi final. I got the Heathrow terminal question on the first clue. Probs proudest moment to date… 🧐
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- Life expectancy is now drifting in the wrong direction... We've dug into healthy life expectancy (or time spent without illness). There is an 18 year gap between local areas. And you can't change that without acting on chronic conditions (MSK, obesity..) 👇 www.nesta.org.uk/blog/what-wi...
- Couldn't agree more with this piece! ‘Don’t tell me your priorities. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are’ is a great quote - driving home that the act of spending so little on prevention tell us all where this falls within health priorities
- Reposted by Lauren Bowes ByattICYMI: Our new paper on the impact of the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy is out. 19 months after implementation, we found that households purchased 7.5g less sugar from soft drinks compared to expected - equivalent to a 2.6% reduction. nutrition.bmj.com/content/earl...
- May be of interest to civil servant pals… esp from the Covid period 👀
- 📢Calling all UK policy officials! Have you ever had to provide policy advice under pressure – in a crisis or in response to breaking news? We at the @instituteforgov.bsky.social want to hear from you! Fill out our survey (open until 14 Feb) to share your insights: bit.ly/3Ek2KoM!
- Reposted by Lauren Bowes Byatt🆕 Gov’t has responded to the House of Lords Food, Diet and Obesity report ✍ They acknowledge reducing obesity 'will require reshaping the food environment that has caused the rise in obesity.' 😪 Unacceptably, the response fails to accept any of the new recommendations www.gov.uk/government/p...
- Reposted by Lauren Bowes Byatt🚀 We've just launched our latest Broken Plate report! It highlights the fact too many people are struggling to access healthy food and much of the food marketed to us is damaging our health and the planet. Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/3PR0Gal #BrokenPlate
- Great launch of the latest broken plate report from @foodfoundation.bsky.social 👏🏻 calling for better access to healthy food for all! (Sorry - couldn’t resist the cringey Big Ben photo!)
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- Reposted by Lauren Bowes ByattIt's not finished. This is just the outline. But I wrote about why North England is poor. Which it really really is. tomforth.co.uk/whynorthengl...
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- This govt has commited to halving the health gap. But (hot take!) it's gonna be hard & need some bold action. New analysis on whats happening with healthy life expentancy (HLE)👇 (1 of 7)
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- Reposted by Lauren Bowes ByattA remarkable stat: Heidi Alexander’s appointment as Transport Secretary means the cabinet is now 100% state-educated for the first time in history.
- Excited to have worked with @henrydimbleby.bsky.social & @dollyvantulleken.bsky.social to find out what former ministers would have done differently on obesity policy.... read more below 👇
- Wanna hear about our blueprint for halving obesity? Sign up to our webinar below 👇
- Join us for a live webinar on 3 Dec with health and policy experts to discuss Nesta’s blueprint for halving obesity and the opportunity for governments, food manufacturers and retailers to play their part in building a healthier food system. Register to attend: www.nesta.org.uk/event/bluepr...
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