The cross-party body accused the Government of a 'haphazard rather than strategic' approach and condemned its failure to launch a health education campaign on obesity, warning that, if left unchecked, today's children could have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. It said 'high risk' foods and drinks should be identified by a 'traffic light' system for labelling, with red indicating foods with a high energy density, and called on the food industry to play its part by 'phasing out price promotions that favour unhealthy foods'.
The report also urged the Government to highlight the importance of physical activity, especially in school, emphasise obesity's link with diabetes and cancer, and ensure that Ofsted included school meals when carrying out inspections.
The committee said, 'We were very surprised that despite its occupying "joint top priority" on the Government's public health agenda, there have been no health education campaigns aimed at tackling obesity. Although we acknowledge its benefits, we do not accept the Government's view that the five-a-day fruit and vegetable promotion campaign is either designed for, or capable of, addressing the nutritional aspects of obesity.'
The report included harrowing evidence from consultant Dr Sheila McKenzie at the Royal London Hospital, who said she had witnessed an overweight three-year-old dying from heart failure. She said four children treated at her unit are suffering sleep disorders and 'choking on their own fat' at night.
The committee supported an expansion in the promotion of healthy foods, but said it was 'an idealistic and ill-thought-through notion' to suggest that was enough to reverse the obesity trend. At present, two-thirds of the population of England are overweight or obese.
The committee also called for a voluntary ban on the advertising of junk food. But Dr Tim Lobstein, director of the Food Commission, said it should be compulsory.
'The average child sees more than 5,000 advertisements for junk food every year. Parents and teachers cannot hope to compete with this barrage of bad messages and corrupting influence. It leads to family friction at mealtimes and tearful toddlers in the supermarket,' Dr Lobstein added.
