Sharon Hodgson MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Public Health, responding to research showing 1.6 million start secondary school overweight, said:

“Research out today showing that 1.6 million children are starting secondary school obese or overweight is exactly why the Tory Government needs to get their act together when it comes to addressing the burgeoning childhood obesity crisis facing our country.

“The three-times delayed and clearly downgraded Childhood Obesity Strategy, published over the summer, shows us the tell-tale signs of a Prime Minister and her Ministers succumbing to outside pressures instead of doing the right thing and putting the health of the nation’s children first.

“When the plan could and should have gone a lot further to address the health of children and young people, it is important now more than ever that the Government are held to account on their actions when it comes to reversing rising obesity trends here in the UK.“

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