Obesity is a rapidly growing problem in the UK. Department of Health statistics show that the prevalence of obesity in children under 11 years of age rose from 9.9% in 1995 to 13.7% in 2003, and in adults obesity prevalence has trebled since the 1980s, with more than 50%, (almost 24 million adults), now being classed as overweight or obese. In the article, we review the latest guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on how to prevent and manage obesity in practice.