25/01/2007

Failure to fight kids flab slammed

An influential group of MPs have rounded on the government for doing insufficient to fight the growing problem of obesity in children.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) blamed the government for being slow to react to the problem and for a failure for change the way marketing operates in food advertising for children.

Three years ago government set targets to reduce the incidence of obesity in under 11-year-olds by 2011.

However, the PAC described the emerging problem as "alarming" and has called for a change in policy to address the issue.

The PAC has revealed that 26 different agencies and departments involved suffered from a lack of co-ordination and that confusion reigned over duties and responsibilities.

Three years on a public information is to be launched this year.

The government has insisted that progress had been made by policies encouraging health eating and physical exercise.

(SP/EF)

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