Obesity is the biggest public health crisis facing the UK and it is crucial that we tackle this issue directly (Ministers accused of backtracking on childhood obesity plan, 31 October). It is staggering that this government is choosing to ignore the problem. Is it acceptable that a third of children aged two to 15 are overweight or obese, putting them in danger of a variety of long-term health problems? The government had a fantastic opportunity to introduce tangible measures that could have initiated a culture change, but this strategy barely touched the surface.
In 2013, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges produced a report, Measuring Up, that identified actions to tackle obesity, including banning junk food advertising before 9pm. We hear that restrictions on junk food advertising were originally included in the government strategy, so why were these and other measures supported by medical experts, removed?
We know what the issues are and what needs to be done to make a difference, so what is stopping our politicians from getting things moving? If we don’t act soon, the number of people living with illnesses caused by obesity will increase significantly and the financial burden on the NHS will continue to rise. We can’t afford to wait any longer to confront this problem head on.
Dr Sheena Bedi
Chief executive, ABL Health
• You rightly focused on nutrition, but the issue of physical activity is also crucial. I’m told by teachers that secondary schools are ceasing teaching PE altogether and using the time in the pursuit of academic exam results. There is no requirement to teach PE and what schools should cover is also not prescribed. If PE is not taught, it will be a disaster not just for kids’ health but their development, confidence, social skills and general education.
Lee Adams
Sheffield
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
Government inaction on obesity is a scandal | Letters
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