PEOPLE should take responsibility for their own health, and lose weight if they need to do so, Tony Blair will say today.

In the second of a series of speeches under the title “Our Nation’s Future”, the Prime Minister will highlight the dividing line between the role of the State and that of the citizen.

Mr Blair will insist that he wants to move away from the nanny state and that the Government cannot make choices for people. He will say there is a need to tackle health issues such as obesity, smoking and lack of exercise, which, if prevented, could relieve some of the pressure on the NHS.

While individuals must take responsibility for improving their health, the State should provide information that lets them make the right choices.

In particular, he will focus on obesity, which costs the NHS £2.6 billion a year, and say that people should do more by taking exercise and resisting junk food.

A Downing Street source said of Mr Blair’s position: “It is really important you should take more exercise. It is really important you should worry about children’s obesity, but we are not the ones who should make you do it.

“It is not that government takes no responsibility, but it needs to create an environment where more people make more healthy choices. We can’t make those choices for people.”

Mr Blair will also reflect on the role of the State in social progress, and look at ways of promoting healthy living.

Times Recommends

• Sarah Brown says 'no thanks' to veal at G8 - twice
• Stockton-on-Tees is obesity capital of Britain
• Stores blame poor sales on Murray factor