Many parents worry from time to time about whether their children are being adequately taught at school and whether they will pass their GCSE exams. Unless we are willing to implement radical strategies to address the epidemic of obesity problems in children, parents may be faced with something much worse to worry about.
Childhood obesity is now a major problem with potentially serious health and social consequences. The increase in UK childhood obesity rates began in the mid 1980s with a rapid escalation occurring over the last 5 years. Current statistics demonstrate the widespread nature of obesity problems in children, suggesting that the prevalence of obesity in children is at least four times higher today than it was 30 years ago.
It has received a great deal of media attention because of the rapid increase in prevalence across the UK as well as internationally, but also as the authorities try to find solutions to reverse this trend.
One of the latest plans is for councils to band food takeways in a bid to stop children eating junk food. Read Dr Ashton's thoughts on this radical plan
