Committees

Body image: MPs to hear from Health Minister and from former ‘The Only Way is Essex’ star

13 May 2022

TV reality star and influencer Charlie King will give evidence to MPs on his experience of cosmetic procedures and the body image pressures of working in the fitness industry.

Health Minister Gillian Keegan will face questions in the final session of the inquiry with a focus on the powers in the new Health and Care Act, which allow the Government to introduce a licensing regime for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as Botox.

The session will also consider current government strategies to tackle obesity and the effectiveness of public messaging. The use of stigmatising language and the damaging impact on health has been raised in evidence to the inquiry.

The Committee will discuss the results of a survey it commissioned on the impact of body image on mental and physical health. More details will be made available following the session.  

Witnesses

Tuesday 17 May

Panel 1 - at 10.00am

  • Charlie King, reality TV star and influencer

Panel 2 - at 10.15am (approx.)

  • Tam Fry, Chairman of the National Obesity Forum
  • Dr Angela Meadows, Lecturer, Department of Psychology, University of Essex
  • Helen James, Founder, Nutriri, a social enterprise advocating body positivity and a weight-neutral approach

Panel 3 - at 11am (approx.)

  • Gillian Keegan MP, Minister for Care and Mental Health, Department of Health and Social Care
  • Zoe Seager, Deputy Director of Mental Health Policy and Operations, Department of Health and Social Care

Further information

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