Early intervention may prevent childhood obesity

Parents should get their children interested in healthy eating at an early age in order to reduce the risk of obesity, experts have said.

The government has recently announced that cooking lessons will become compulsory for children in an attempt to educate youngsters about the importance of healthy eating.

However, Kim Johnson, a Yorkshire designer, said that getting children interested in healthy eating should start early on in life.

She said: "As a mum and manufacturer in the nursery sector, I see shocking statistics about the health of today's children.

"It's all very well changing menus in schools and reintroducing 'Domestic Science', but we parents need to get toddlers interested in food much earlier than school."

According to experts, children form habits between the ages of two and four, highlighting the importance of instilling ideas about healthy eating at an early age.

Ms Johnson added: "Our generation are the first set to outlive our kids because of today's fast food culture so we need to do something now before it's too late."