The White Paper outlines plans to cut junk food ads
Cutting obesity is a top priority, with measures including restrictions on junk food advertising to children and a coding system to identify healthy food.
The White Paper also sets out plans to ban smoking in enclosed public places, including most pubs.
It also covers alcohol misuse and sexual and mental health.
EXPECTED HEALTH REFORMS Smoking to be banned in restaurants and offices, but only restricted in pubs Restrictions imposed on junk food ads to children Nutrition guidance on food packaging National sexual health campaign targeting young men and women Clearer labelling on alcohol Access to 'personal lifestyle gurus' on the NHS
Smoking ban for England Reaction to proposals
A new health advice service called Health Direct, available over the phone, internet and digital TV will be introduced - based on the existing NHS Direct service.
Everyone will also be entitled to their own personal health guide - and an NHS health trainer.
The government has said it wants to reduce health inequalities by giving everyone the same opportunity to have a healthy lifestyle, focussing efforts on the most deprived areas.
Currently, a child born in Manchester lives at least seven years less than a child born in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Fruit and veg vouchers
Setting out its plans to improve the nation's diet, the government says it will work with the food industry to develop voluntary codes on food and drink promotion to children.
If the industry has not brought in satisfactory measures by 2007, the government has pledged to introduce measures - and potentially legislation - to force it to conform.
PUBLIC HEALTH TARGETS Focus on government's key target areas
At-a-glance
They also want the food industry to develop voluntary measures to cut sugar and fat levels in certain foods - as they have with salt.
From next year, eligible pregnant women - including all those under 18 - breastfeeding mothers and young children in low income families will be given vouchers for fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and infant formula.
School meals will have to conform to nutrition guidelines - and their Ofsted inspection will take this into account. Each primary care trust will have to cover the primary and secondary schools in its area.
Children will be encouraged to cycle to school and adults to get active at work.
The government also plans to establish an independent national partnership for obesity which will provide research and evidence on the effectiveness of measures to tackle the problem.
'Up to individuals'
Measures to promote sensible drinking will include health warnings on alcohol products and in places which sell alcohol.
WHITE PAPER DETAILS
White Paper executive summary (1.24MB) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the reader here
On sexual health, the government will introduce new information campaigns for young people and deliver 48 hour access to genitourinary clinics by 2008. At the moment that target is only met for 38% of attendances.
The government warns 2.7m accidents lead people to seek hospital treatment each year, and accidental injury is one of the leading cause of child death.
It promises to introduce information campaigns on how young people in particular can avoid accidents, and work with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to look at new ways of delivering accident-prevention messages.
The White Paper also repeats the government's aim to reduce substance misuse amongst young people.
In the foreword, the government says it wants to create an environment in which people are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles.
But the White Paper says it is not the role of government to force people to become healthy.
Mr Reid said: "It is clear we need to do more as a society to improve people's health.
"Having defeated many deadly infectious diseases, we now face the challenge of avoidable ill-health caused by poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking.
"People make their own choices about health. This government's role is to help ensure society moves in the right direction - by providing clear information for individuals, working with industry to deliver real progress and where necessary taking decisive action to ensure healthy choices are available to all."
Political criticism
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley dismissed the government's plans as insubstantial.
He said: "All the government can offer is gimmicks and a nanny state.
"This is a government that needs to get its priorities sorted out. This White Paper is a missed opportunity."
Paul Burstow, for the Liberal Democrats, accused the government of "dithering and hesitation".
"Simply tackling individual lifestyles ignores many fundamental causes of ill-health. The White Paper was silent on issues of poverty, poor housing and poor environment."
The paper was drawn up after one of the largest public consultations, involving 150,000 people, over the summer.
The Department of Health received more than 1,000 submissions from individuals alone - unheard of for a white paper.
UK Health Secretary John Reid has proposed widespread legislative and health care changes in a new white paper on public health released Tuesday. Titled "Choosing Health", the paper details government plans to restrict smoking in public places, limit 'junk food' advertisements to children, make available "lifestyle trainers", campaign against sexually transmitted diseases and tobacco, and improve food labelling.

The white paper comes after extensive public comment that involved 150,000 people.

Smoking would be restricted in enclosed public spaces, restaurants, workplaces, and some pubs. The ban would be enacted gradually, affecting government and NHS buildings in 2006, enclosed public places in 2007, and private property in 2008. Permanent exemption would be granted to pubs that do not serve prepared food -- though not at the bar -- as well as private clubs, a decision that has provoked some to call the measure incomplete. Up to 90% of pubs are expected to be affected. The Scottish executive proposed a complete ban on smoking in enclosed public places last week, and Ireland has already banned smoking in pubs and restaurants.

Food advertisements targeted to children would be banned until 9pm, under the White Paper's proposals. The restriction is a measure to tackle rising rates of childhood obesity. The government also intends to develop voluntary standards on food and drink advertisements to children with industry, only threatening legislation if an acceptable standard is not reached by 2007. Additionally, low income families would receive vouchers for fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, and infant formula. School lunches would also be held to stricter nutritional standards. Reid has warned that unless childhood obesity is tackled, "we face the prospect of children having shorter life expectancy than their parents".

Food labelling would also be improved, with a "traffic light" system implemented. Packaged food would be evaluated based on its fat, sugar, and salt content.

The paper is unusual for suggesting a more holistic approach to health care, offering for the first time "lifestyle trainers." The National Health Service would be funding with an additional £1bn to make people's overall lives healthier, which is expected to save £30bn in preventable illness.

The paper additionally makes mention of reducing accidents, which affected 2.7m people last year and is a leading cause of child death, curb binge drinking, and reduce substance abuse among youths.

The paper has been criticized by many parties. The Tory Shadow Health Secretary has criticized the Labour government's comprehensiveness and creation of a "new nanny state approach". He has additionally described it as "gimmicks". The Liberal Democrats have accused the government of not being comprehensive enough. It has also been criticized by the British Medical Association as being implemented too slowly, saying "When lives need saving, doctors act immediately".

Mr. Reid has argued against the nanny state label, saying "In a free society, men and women ultimately have the right within the law to choose their own lifestyle, even when it may damage their own health. But people do not have the right to damage the health of others, or to impose an intolerable degree of inconvenience or nuisance on others ... This is a sensible solution which balances the protection of the majority with the personal freedom of the minority in England".

The full white paper "Choosing Health" can be read  here.