Government minister suggests no buggies for kids over 3
In a bid to curb rising obesity rates, the government has urged parents of young children to encourage their offspring to walk, rather than pushing them in a buggy.The call has come from Anne Milton, public health minister, who has suggested that by getting children to walk more, families will be encouraged to exercise more.
In response, Nickie Aiken, Westminster council's cabinet member for children, said that youngsters aged three and over should no longer need to be pushed in a buggy for short trips.
"We have to acknowledge that childhood obesity is a growing problem and while local authorities have a part to play it is ultimately the responsibility of parents and carers to tackle this issue", she said.
Ms Aiken also suggested that parents could help control their child's weight by getting them to eat a healthy diet.
A 2005 report by the National Academies' Institute of Medicine stated that there was strong evidence to link adverts for junk food to a rise in childhood obesity rates across the US.
