About the National Obesity Observatory

The National Obesity Observatory was established in December 2007 and received core funding from the Department of Health in April 2008.

The main functions of the Obesity Observatory are to:

  • Analyse and report on obesity and related surveillance data
  • Produce topical evidence and data briefings
  • Provide guidance and develop a national framework for the evaluation of weight management interventions
  • Map data on weight status and associated indicators
  • Develop innovative analytical and data presentation tools
  • Gather and present information on international best practice
  • Provide guidance and technical support to the Expert Panel on obesity

View details of the NOO team here

NOO Work Programme

Download: NOO work programme 2009/2010

Quality Assurance

NOO has robust quality assurance procedures to ensure accuracy and completeness of our outputs.

Quality assurance processes

All NOO reports are quality assured. Technical and analytical reports are reviewed by colleagues from other Public Health Observatories and external experts as relevant. Briefing papers and evidence reviews are peer reviewed by topic specific experts.

NOO expert reviewers

The following expert reviewers have kindly reviewed NOO outputs. NOO acknowledges and values their excellent contribution which is essential to ensure and maintain the quality of our outputs.

Professor Adrian Bauman, University of Sydney
Professor Iain Buchan, University of Manchester
Professor Tim Cole, University College London
Peter Dick, Department of Health
Dr Charlie Foster, University of Oxford
Professor David Hall, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Dr Melvyn Hillsdon, University of Bristol
Dr Marian Knight, University of Oxford
Dr Tim Lobstein, International Association for the Study of Obesity
Dr David McCarthy, London Metropolitan University
Dr Christine McMaster, Health Service Executive, Ireland
Dr Jenny Mindell, University College London
Dr Judith Rankin, University of Newcastle
Dr Julian Shield, University of Bristol
Dr Manos Stamatakis, University College London
Professor Carolyn Summerbell, University of Durham
Dr Gary Whitlock, University of Oxford
Professor Charlotte Wright, University of Glasgow