Opinion

Brave and bold action to tackle childhood obesity

Cameron must bring in a tax on sugary drinks now to tackle childhood obesity, says Dr Sarah Wollaston, chair of the health committee.

They are shocking statistics: one-fifth of children are overweight or obese when they begin in Reception class, and this figure increases to one-third by the time they leave primary school. The most deprived children are twice as likely as the least deprived to be obese at Reception and Year 6. This is why, in our report to Government before Christmas, the Health Select Committee called on the Prime Minister to take brave and bold action.

Children’s BMI is now measured routinely through the National Child Measurement Programme, but few effective interventions are in place to help those identified as overweight and obese. In our view, the lifetime physical and emotional consequences for obese children can no longer be ignored, including the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers. It is also associated with poor mental health in adults, and stigma and bullying in childhood.

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