Express & Star Comment: Encourage young to eat healthy
There is little doubt that Britain is mired in an ever worsening obesity crisis.
This is particularly the case in deprived areas of the country, where people are twice as likely to be obese as they are in more affluent areas.
According to the latest NHS figures, Wolverhampton has the second highest rate of obesity in young children in the country, with 13.5 per cent of four to five-year-olds across the city classed as obese.
Now Wolverhampton Council has been attempting to tackle the city's obesity problem for years.
All manner of new initiatives have been brought in, including encouraging youngsters to walk to school, and focusing on healthy eating in families.
Yet despite the authority's best efforts, the number of obese children in the city has increased.
Wolverhampton is by no means alone in struggling to make inroads with this troubling national issue.
Across the UK last year one in five children in their last year of primary school were found to be obese.
One thing is clear.
This is not something that can be dealt with solely by the combined efforts of local authorities, the NHS and our schools.
We are all responsible for tackling obesity, and it starts at home when children are in their formative years.
It is the duty of parents and carers to instil the importance of a healthy diet on our youngsters.
The eating habits they pick up between the ages of two and six can stay with them for years.
Sadly, by the time youngsters are approaching their teens it is often too late.
By that stage they may have developed a taste for some of the more unhealthy options offered at the region's myriad of takeaways and fast food restaurants.
We are all responsible for encouraging our children to grow up to enjoy healthy food.
The authorities can do their bit by providing less fattening options on school dinner menus and encouraging physical activity.
In Wolverhampton plans are afoot to restrict the number of takeaways, particularly those in the vicinity of secondary schools.
But there is a serious danger that as a nation we are over complicating the issue.
We must make it a priority to make sure our children eat healthily and get enough exercise.
