MPs warn of obesity risks ‘to an entire generation’
This is a huge story today, making it on to the front page of the Telegraph and the Guardian. A report from the Public Accounts Committee criticises the departments of Health and Education and Skills for doing too little to stem the “alarming” obesity epidemic.
The report says obesity costs the nation around £3.5 billion, which will rise to £4.5 billion in three years if the trend continues. The committee recommends that parents should be told when their children weigh in as overweight or obese. Edward Leigh, chairman of the committee, admitted that changing the behaviour of children and their parents was ‘tricky territory’’ but said: “It is therefore all the more urgent that the departments involved work together to set a clear direction.” The Committee also calls for an “obesity tsar” and for parents to be given clear advice on what to do if their child is obese. Ministers’ attempts to stay friendly with the food industry are criticised.
The committee identified a “complex” chain for tackling childhood obesity which involved 26 different bodies, and suffered from “confusion over roles and responsibilities”. It also criticised the fact that it was not clear how information from the programme to measure children, which began in 2006 would be used. Caroline Flint said: “What we are absolutely clear about is that overweight and obesity cannot be tackled by Government alone which is why we are co-ordinating action across Government, the food and fitness industries, retailers, through the voluntary and public sectors to target action where it can be most effective. The Government will consider the report carefully before making a full response.”
The tabloid press tends to concentrate its reporting on the fact that the Committee recommends parents be told if their children are overweight and produces headlines such as “Your kid is fat” (Sun) and “Nanny says: Lose weight” (Mail).
(Telegraph p1 & 2; Guardian p1 & p4; Times p9; Independent p9; Sun p22; Mail p37; Mirror p34)
