LGA says tackling child obesity essential to avoid ticking health time bomb
The warning comes from Councillor David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) Community Wellbeing Board, in response to a Royal Society for Public Health report on physical activity and child obesity.
Cllr Fothergill said: "As these stark new projections show, there is still much to do if we are to avoid today's obese children becoming tomorrow's obese adults.
"The government must work with councils and others to turbo charge the efforts to tackle this ticking health time bomb, so we can collectively tackle sedentary lifestyles and boost physical activity."
He emphasised the challenges faced by families, especially in disadvantaged areas.
READ: Obesity remains a 'significant health challenge' as latest figures revealed
Cllr Fothergill said: "Access to healthy, nutritious food is a huge challenge for families in our most disadvantaged communities, particularly amidst the ongoing rise in the cost-of-living. To effectively tackle obesity, councils need funding to provide targeted support to those who need it the most."
He also called for funding from the soft drinks industry levy to be reinvested in council-run healthy eating and physical activity programmes.
Cllr Fothergill said: "It is vital that councils are adequately funded through the public health grant to provide the frontline services that tackle obesity, so we were concerned the Spending Review once again overlooked public health funding. Investment in councils' public health services now will reap benefits for everyone longer-term and help improve the life chances of the next generation."
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