Education should be given on childhood obesity
17/06/2010 Government recommendations are for children to spend 60 minutes each day exercising outdoors and to eat a healthy balanced diet.
However, according to the British Dietetic Association, the messages about children's nutrition and food are not being properly put across to parents.
Tanya Haffner, spokesperson for the organisation, said that the UK "need[s] more education all round" about healthy diets and that measures should be taken to ensure junk food is less accessible to children.
The comments come after a study by University College London concluded that a ban on junk food advertising would cut childhood obesity levels.
Figures from the NHS show that in 2008 31 per cent of boys and 29 per cent of girls between the ages of two and 15 were obese.
Ms Haffner said that the issue encompasses more than junk food advertising, including the proximity of fast food restaurants to areas used for outdoor play activities, the accessibility of facilities for exercising outdoors and parental education.
However, according to the British Dietetic Association, the messages about children's nutrition and food are not being properly put across to parents.
Tanya Haffner, spokesperson for the organisation, said that the UK "need[s] more education all round" about healthy diets and that measures should be taken to ensure junk food is less accessible to children.
The comments come after a study by University College London concluded that a ban on junk food advertising would cut childhood obesity levels.
Figures from the NHS show that in 2008 31 per cent of boys and 29 per cent of girls between the ages of two and 15 were obese.
Ms Haffner said that the issue encompasses more than junk food advertising, including the proximity of fast food restaurants to areas used for outdoor play activities, the accessibility of facilities for exercising outdoors and parental education.
