Stopping child obesity
SIR – Big challenges require bold and brave action, and there is no bigger public health challenge than the increasing number of children who are affected by obesity.
In order to thrive, Britain needs its workforce of the future to be healthy; but, more than that, the Government has a duty to protect children and use all the tools at its disposal to create an environment in which they can grow up free from diseases linked to excess weight.
We agree that this Government should be applauded for its recent update to the childhood obesity plan, and we are particularly pleased to see action to restrict junk-food marketing and promotions that steer us towards unhealthy choices.
Creating a healthy environment requires action on many fronts, and there is lots more to do. We can’t be complacent and we will continue to urge the Government to go faster and further in implementing changes that will protect our children’s health.
Prof Russell Viner
President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Prof John Wass
Special Adviser on Obesity, Royal College of Physicians
Jamie Oliver
Chef and Campaigner
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Writer and Broadcaster
Cheryll Adams
Director, Institute of Health Visiting
Alison Cox
Director of Prevention, Cancer Research UK
Helen Dickens
Assistant Director of Campaigns and Mobilisation, Diabetes UK
Dame Parveen Kumar
Board of Science Chair, British Medical Association
Professor Simon Capewell
Faculty of Public Health
John Maingay
Director of Policy and Public Affairs, British Heart Foundation
Ben Reynolds
Deputy Director, Sustain
Dr Modi Mwatsama
Director, Policy and Global Health, UK Health Forum
Kieron Boyle
Chief Executive, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity
Dr Emma Boyland
University of Liverpool
Anna Taylor
Executive Director, Food Foundation
Judi Rhys
Chief Executive, British Liver Trust
Dr Liam Brennan
President, Royal College of Anaesthetists
Shirley Cramer
Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health Professor
Michael Escudier
Dean, Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons
Professor Carrie MacEwen
Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
Alison Taylor
Chief Executive, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation
Shaw Somers
President, British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society
Mick Armstrong
Chair, British Dental Association
Nicola Close
Chief Executive, Association of Director’s of Public Health
Alex Holt
Food and Nutrition Lead, Food Active
Shefalee Loth
Caroline Walker Foundation
Michael Baber
Chair, Health Action Campaign