Michelle Obama tackles childhood obesity
Michelle Obama has called on leading food companies to review their provision of nutritional information and the marketing of unhealthy products to children.Speaking at the Grocery Manufacturers Association's forum this week, the first lady of the US urged junk food brands to offer healthier alternatives and reduce the volume of high-fat, sugary items aimed at kids.
She said: "While decreasing fat is certainly a good thing, replacing it with sugar and salt isn't. This needs to be a serious industry-wide commitment to providing the healthier foods parents are looking for at prices they can afford."
A child nutrition bill due to move through Congress this year could see the removal of junk foods from schools.
According to Bupa, the number of overweight and obese children in the UK has risen steadily over the past 20 years. In 2004 it was estimated that 14 per cent of boys and 17 per cent of girls aged two to 15 were obese.
