Obesity has become a significant public health problem in the UK. A quarter of children leaving school are now classed as overweight. In addition, one in four adults are now considered obese and current trends suggest this could exceed fifty per cent by 2050. Being overweight can have a detrimental effect on the self-esteem and mental health of individuals, and also increases the risk of developing a range of serious diseases, which can shorten life expectancy. Health problems associated with obesity are placing enormous pressure on the NHS, costing more than £5billion every year. Hallmark’s nutrition and health programme has been developed to provide learners with essential knowledge and understanding of nutrition and diet, and how these impact on an individual’s health and well-being.