Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Supermarkets to get healthy eating targets under governme...

1 3

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Jul 2

Action to tackle obesity in the 10-Year Health Plan can't come soon enough.

@nestauk.bsky.social's latest analysis outlines that obesity and excess weight cost the UK economy ~£31bn in lost productivity.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

1 2

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Lauren Bowes Byatt @laurenbowesbyatt.bsky.social · Jun 29

Excited to see! It's not everyday you help get a policy over the line...

Government has adopted healthy food standard - based on a policy developed by Nesta. It'll see food businesses encouraged to get healthier food on our shelves and in our diets.

Read more👉https://tinyurl.com/43fnpcm5

Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · Jun 29

Great to see @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social announce a new healthy food standard.

Nesta first set out this policy in 2024 and we are very pleased to welcome it today.

Read more in @theobserveruk.bsky.social with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Wes Streeting says retailers can help nudge people in right direction and drive ‘transformational’ change

observer.co.uk

1 3 13

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Jun 29

There is still lots of detail to get right.

The measure must be mandatory: supermarkets have voluntary targets already, and they aren't driving the changes needed.

And it needs to use the right measure to incentivise meaningful change.

Read more in Nesta's blog: www.nesta.org.uk/blog/the-hea...

The healthy food standard is a win for the nation’s health

The UK government has announced a healthy food standard to improve the healthiness of the food we buy. Here’s why we think it’s a good idea.

Supermarkets to get healthy eating targets under governme...

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Jun 29

The Health Secretary has just announced a new policy designed by @nestauk.bsky.social that could cut obesity by a fifth.

As the food that surrounds us has got worse over time, obesity rates have crept up.

If we work with supermarkets to make food a little bit healthier, we can reverse this trend.

Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · Jun 29

Great to see @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social announce a new healthy food standard.

Nesta first set out this policy in 2024 and we are very pleased to welcome it today.

Read more in @theobserveruk.bsky.social with @rachelsylvester.bsky.social observer.co.uk/news/politic...

Wes Streeting says retailers can help nudge people in right direction and drive ‘transformational’ change

observer.co.uk

1 1 7

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · Jun 26

It's weird how giving people more money makes them better off and less likely to be in poverty.

Adam Corlett @adamcorlett.bsky.social · Jun 26

A favourite stat in my new report: there was no household income gap between children and pensioners in the early 2000s, but by 2023 it was over £5,000 – and it's projected to get bigger www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...

12 38 190

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · May 29

Want to understand what the 1-metre rule for heat pumps is all about, and what scrapping it means?

Colleagues at @nestauk.bsky.social are on hand - check out our latest beautiful explainer:

Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · May 29

Today, the 1 metre ruling requiring a minimum of 1 metre between a heat pump & property boundaries has been lifted for homes in England, meaning thousands of homeowners can make the first step to getting one.

🔖 Our new explainer outlines the planning process for getting a heat pump: bit.ly/4mAIDo0

Britain’s two-child benefit cap must go

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · May 27

It's a pretty dismal reflection on our politics that a policy as bad as the two child limit was introduced in the first place and has survived for a decade.

Especially once it became clear it was having no impact on family size (which was the only flimsy policy justification).

Rachel Sylvester @rachelsylvester.bsky.social · May 27

Good piece by @stephenkb.bsky.social . Reversing the winter fuel allowance cut is pure politics but scrapping the two child benefit cap is actually about the merits of the policy on.ft.com/4kz4GJN

The government should recognise that it has a stake in its people having enough children

on.ft.com

10 52 220

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · May 23

Magical thinking latest: that you can have an effective child poverty strategy while leaving the big lever marked 'this lever guarantees child poverty' untouched.

No 10 delays child poverty strategy with tens of thousands more facing hardship

Exclusive: Flagship policy put back until at least autumn amid fears cost of scrapping two-child limit will outweigh political benefit

www.theguardian.com

12 130 450

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · May 21

Fiscal nerds rejoice: you can now be the Chancellor (for a day at least) in this very cool* tax tool from Nesta and IFS.

Which tax and spend choices would you make?

*I have worked in policy for too long

Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · May 21

Tough choices face the government in the upcoming spending review.

Now updated, the Be the Chancellor tax tool by Nesta & @theifs.bsky.social invites you to set tax + spending to see how different choices affect the government balance sheet.

Be the Chancellor

Our interactive tool lets you be the Chancellor. Set your tax and spending plans for the next five years and see how your choices affect the government balance sheet

Weight loss drugs are becoming the nanny statist’s worst nightmare

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Matthew Butcher @matthew1butcher.bsky.social · May 19

We are really excited to be hiring a Head of Media at @neonuk.bsky.social . If you are someone who knows how to land priogressive stories and spokespeople in the media and want to be part of a really great team, please check it out: www.neweconomyorganisers.org/about-jobs/h...

3 4

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Kieran Lowe @kieranran.bsky.social · May 15

A recent Telegraph article has stated that @nestauk.bsky.social would prefer the Government to focus on reformulating food, reducing junk food advertising and shifting price promotions towards healthier foods over the use of weight-loss drugs: bit.ly/3YP1IIW

But that’s not quite true ⬇️

Why would people who support policies that do not work be so resistant to medications that do?

www.telegraph.co.uk

1 1 1

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · May 13

More exciting vacancies at Nesta 👇🏼

Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · May 8

Hi BlueSky, we're looking for 3 policy comms leads (health, net zero, early years). @nestauk.bsky.social. Very open-minded on background. Drop me a line if you want to chat www.nesta.org.uk/jobs/

Jobs

We are always looking to work with a diverse range of talent. Browse current job vacancies at Nesta and from our partners

We are always looking to work with a diverse range of talent. Browse current job vacancies at Nesta and from our partners

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Mark Byrne @markobroin.bsky.social · May 8

Hi BlueSky, we're looking for 3 policy comms leads (health, net zero, early years). @nestauk.bsky.social. Very open-minded on background. Drop me a line if you want to chat www.nesta.org.uk/jobs/

Jobs

12 9

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · May 7

We buy 88% of our calories from supermarkets, making them critical partners when it comes to improving our diets.

Check out @nestauk.bsky.social's latest analysis which shows which small changes to our weekly shop could, over time, bring down obesity rates.

Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · May 7

Around two-thirds of all adults in the UK are living with excess weight and obesity. But small changes to our diets can make a big difference to obesity rates at a population level.

We analysed food purchasing habits to show what small changes to the food we buy might look like. bit.ly/3YxsIwk

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · May 2

New analysis by @nestauk.bsky.social reveals official data is significantly underestimating the no of people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds living with excess weight.

Any government serious about tackling health inequalities needs a plan to reduce obesity.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · May 2

New analysis by @nestauk.bsky.social reveals official data is significantly underestimating the no of people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds living with excess weight.

Any government serious about tackling health inequalities needs a plan to reduce obesity.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Nourishing Britain: a political manual for improving the nation’s health

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Apr 29

🥤 The sugar tax has been a huge success, incentivising manufacturers to reduce the sugar content of their products.

Expanding it to more high-sugar drinks is a sensible next step. Here's @nestauk.bsky.social's take on the impact it could have:

blueprint.nesta.org.uk/intervention...

3 6

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Apr 24

Even though the public consistently back more interventionist measures on health, politicians are held back by fear of 'nanny state' accusations.

See @nestauk.bsky.social report by @dollyvantulleken.bsky.social and @henrydimbleby.bsky.social on how to get round this
www.nesta.org.uk/report/nouri...

Henry Dimbleby and Dr Dolly van Tulleken draw on interviews with former prime ministers and other key figures to offer practical advice and insights on how today’s politicians can tackle the UK’s obes...

Why do the early years matter so much for later life?

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Apr 24

Some fascinating findings in this @ippr.bsky.social report.

🍟🍫People feel the food and drink industry (84%) has greater responsibility for health outcomes than the NHS (79%)

🍏🥕People don't want a ban on unhealthy food, but to de-normalise unhealthy choices

Institute for Public Policy Research @ippr.org · Apr 24

❤️‍🩹 | NEW REPORT: Voters want bold action on health – and don’t see it as 'nanny statism'. Our new research with Public First shows that smarter public health policy isn’t just good for the nation – it could be a vote-winner too.

www.ippr.org/articles/the...

1 1

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Apr 24

👶Why do the early years matter so much for later life? Fascinating (and beautiful) explainer on how our brains develop, how early life experiences can have cascade effects and why it is so important to support every child to have the best start in life.

www.nesta.org.uk/feature/why-...

Early brain development, combined with cascading developmental effects, mean experiences in childhood profoundly shape long-term outcomes

Test and learn: a playbook for mission-driven government | BIT

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Lauren Bowes Byatt @laurenbowesbyatt.bsky.social · Apr 23

I've really loved coming to work at Nesta. Partly because it made me check my ways of working and getting 'stuff' done, after time in govt. Being more creative to problem solving.

Our work fast & iterate approach is key... Read more about that below 👇

BIT @bitglobal.bsky.social · Apr 22

The UK govt needs to adopt a different way of working to achieve its bold new missions.

Policies need to be reviewed and improved via a test and learn approach.

BIT + @nestauk.bsky.social new playbook explains this approach and how it can deliver impactful solutions 👇 www.bi.team/publications...

The UK government has pledged to deliver bold new missions – ambitious, long-term commitments to tackle critical societal challenges. These promises will resonate strongly with many public servants wh...

www.bi.team

1 2

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Apr 11

The debate around UPF has driven welcome consumer awareness of the unhealthiness of the food that's marketed and promoted to us everyday.

A new report from @nestauk.bsky.social asks: should we regulate UPF?

TL;DR - no. Most unhealthy UPF is already captured in existing legislation.

Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · Apr 11

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become central to recent debates around fixing our broken food environment.

Latest Nesta analysis looks at whether regulating UPFs could help to improve UK diets ⬇️ www.nesta.org.uk/report/upf-a...

UPF and HFSS – different labels, same foods?

An analysis of where ultra-processed foods meet those high in fat, sugar and salt

We are always looking to work with a diverse range of talent. Browse current job vacancies at Nesta and from our partners

4 1

Reposted by Grace Hetherington

Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · Apr 10

Are you looking for your next job role? Our current vacancies could be the right fit for you ⤵️

📊 Group Data Journalist
🗞️ Group Media Officer
📈 Junior Data Engineer
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Head of Nesta Cymru

Find out more and apply on our website: www.nesta.org.uk/jobs/

Jobs

Exploring ways to ensure people can afford a healthy diet

Grace Hetherington @gchetherington.bsky.social · Apr 2

With so much pressure on household budgets, what can we do to make healthy food more affordable?

Some thoughts from colleagues Jonathan Bone and John Barber in Nesta's latest blog 👇

Nesta @nestauk.bsky.social · Apr 1

Being able to afford healthy food is a key factor in maintaining a healthy diet. But rising living costs and inflation are making that harder for more people to achieve.

As food insecurity becomes more widespread, we need new strategies to help more people to afford a healthy diet:

Broader interventions, such as reformulation, price shifts, and healthier swaps, are needed to drive small, sustainable dietary changes across the population