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:

• Provide an authoritative source of data and evidence on obesity, overweight and their determinants
• Co-ordinate surveillance on obesity and overweight, including working towards the commitment to monitoring made in the WHO European Charter on Counteracting Obesity
• Analyse surveillance and indicator data, and report on progress against the new ambition
• Provide guidance on assessing and evaluating pilots and demonstration sites in England
• Gather information on international best practice and developing links to the International Obesity Task Force, WHO, and other supranational bodies
• Provide technical support to the Expert Panel