Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Tuesday, 19 December 2006.

Children: Obesity

Question: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Does he agree with the comment by Professor Peter Littlejohns, that, "““Obesity is the most serious threat to the future health of our nation””?" Will he join me in welcoming this excellent report’s emphasis of the fact that obesity is first and foremost an environmental issue, a traditional public health issue, rather than a clinical one? Will he therefore bring the report to the attention of a wide range of organisations and agencies involved in matters such as safer streets, better play facilities, investing in playing fields instead of selling them off, full and affordable community use of school facilities, and a long list of other aspects which noble Lords could add?

Answer: My Lords, the noble Lord is right. It is a wide-ranging and excellent report; it will be drawn to the attention of a wide range of people, as I indicated. Obesity is one of the major public health issues in the developing world; it can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. But we are making great strides, for example, in increasing children’s participation in sport: 80 per cent of schoolchildren now do at least two hours of school sport a week, which beats our target of 75 per cent for 2006.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 687 c1893-4
Session: 2006-07
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: Children Obesity National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk