Government needs to do more says watchdog

Child obesity is still rising in the UK, and it's up to the government to work harder on the issue. That's the opinion of Public sector watchdogs the National Audit Office, Healthcare Commission and Audit Commission who in a new study say that the percentage of obese children in the UK rose from 9.6% in 1995 to 13.7% in 2003.

'We should be trying to reverse the trend, not just halt it,' said Paul Sacher, founder of the Institute of Child Health's Mend Programme. 'We have shown that if you address diet, exercise and behaviour you can make a difference. But to date we have had little lead by the government, it has been too slow.'

'This generation of children could be the first for many decades that doesn't live for as long as their parents,' warned Steve Bundred, the chief executive of the Audit Commission.

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