Government Commitments to End Child Obesity Don't Go Far Enough - Brooke

6.35.01pm GMT Tue 28th Feb 2006

Commenting on the report by the National Audit Office (NAO), the Healthcare Commission and the Audit Commission published today which criticises the government on that lack of a coordinated strategy to tackle rising levels of obesity, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for children said:

"While the government states that action is being taken to tackle the 'timebomb' of obesity in the young, really important opportunities to address the key problems are being ignored.

"The government failed to back the Children's Food Bill back in October, which included measures that could have had a dramatic impact on the immediate and long term food choices of children. Importantly, it also addressed the need to teach children in schools about food and the preparation of meals.

"More recently, the government missed a key opportunity to improve breastfeeding rates by ignoring amendments to the Health Bill aimed at encouraging more mothers to breastfeed, which has proven benefits to child health, and reduces obesity in the young."