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Burstow calls for Bill to tackle childhood obesity

June 27, 2005 11:00 AM

MP for Sutton and Cheam, Paul Burstow, has this week backed a Bill that would see key measures introduced to curb the rising problem of childhood obesity.

Paul Burstow is a key sponsor of the Children's Food Bill which would bring in regulations to prohibit the marketing to children of foods that have high levels of salt, sugar and fat. The Bill would require school meals to comply with nutritional benchmarks set by the Food Standards Agency and would prevent the sale of unhealthy food and drink from vending machines and tuck shops in schools. The Bill also makes provision for nutritional education and practical cooking skills to be part of the national curriculum up to the age of 16.

Paul Burstow has actively campaigned on childhood obesity in Parliament for a number of years. He revealed figures from the Department of Health that showed hospital treatment for obese children and teenagers has more than doubled since 1997. Further statistics uncovered by Mr Burstow have found that prescriptions of the obesity drug Orlistat have increased by over 300% in four years and 30% in the most recent year alone.

Paul Burstow commented:

"This Bill would give force of law to measures to tackle unhealthy eating habits, as opposed to the weak and ineffective voluntary guidance we have seen up until now.

"Every parent knows the power of advertising in encouraging children to snack unhealthily, which at times can seem relentless. I welcome the controls that this Bill would place on commercial activities promoting pester power and unhealthy products to the young.

"If habits can be formed at an early age at school we are in a strong position to stop the current increase in childhood obesity and the associated risks to health that go with it."

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