Department of Health (DH) Obesity Strategy - 23 January 2008

RCPCH response to Department of Health (DH) Obesity Strategy - 23 January 2008

Dr Patricia Hamilton, RCPCH President:

"The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health strongly supports the Government's proposals to tackle obesity. We continue to be concerned about the high numbers of children who are obese or overweight. Obesity damages children's physical and mental health and the harmful effects continue into adulthood. Promotion of breastfeeding must be a key element of the strategy. We want the Government to bring formula milk advertising into line with World Health Organisation recommendations. The RCPCH also endorses the use of the traffic light system of food labelling that has been introduced by the Food Standards Agency. The RCPCH sees the traffic light system of food labelling as an important strategic measure to enable carers to select healthy foods and to encourage healthy eating in children thereby increasing their chances of a long and healthy life."

To view the report in full on the DH website - click here