A new report from the House of Lords Science and Technology Sub-Committee has called for new measures to be implemented in order to encourage lifestyle changes.

Behaviour Change said that "nudging" is unlikely to be successful in promoting a healthier lifestyle and behavioural changes that are required to address key social issues. It follows a year-long investigation into how the government looks to change the behaviour of individuals and found that isolated "nudges" are not effective in achieving their aims.

The committee has now called for new measures - including some regulatory - to drive the behavioural and lifestyle changes needed to combat some of the UK's social problems. In the report, it was also found that current voluntary arrangements with businesses - with regards to public health - have major flaws and should be dropped in favour of regulation.

Committee chair Baroness Neuberger said: "There are all manner of things that the government want us to do - lose weight, give up smoking, use the car less, give blood - but how can they get us to do them? "It won't be easy and this inquiry has shown that it certainly won't be achieved through using 'nudges', or any other sort of intervention, in isolation."