A report published in the UK has warned that the spiralling problem of childhood obesity could mean that many children will have a shorter lifespan than their parents. The Fabian Society, a left-wing think tank, claims that one in ten British children are obese and has called for a ban on the advertising of sweets and sodas targeted at children. The society also suggests that the government should be giving out more nutritional advice, and that local councils should turn down planning applications for new food stores if they are not easily accessible by foot. Author of the report Dr Howard Stoate, an MP and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Care and Public Health, said: “Not only do we stand on the brink of an obesity epidemic that could wipe years off children’s lives, but poverty still condemns thousands of children every year to a lifetime of poor health followed by early death.”
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 26th December 2002
