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Carers of young children should get obesity support, experts say

A cross-party parliamentary group has called for carers of young children to get support on nutrition, food choices, physical activity and sleep to help combat the UK’s obesity crisis.

The fifth report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on A Fit and Healthy Childhood advocates a child-centred and holistic obesity strategy, focused on prevention and early intervention.

Baroness Floella Benjamin, who co-chairs the APPG, said the report aims to be a ‘pertinent and timely’ reminder ahead of the Government’s National Obesity Strategy, due to launch next month.

The APPG, which uses evidence from leading experts on obesity, wants the Government to spend more on obesity prevention programmes.

At the moment it spends less than £638 million per year on prevention, while treating diabetes costs £10 billion. 

The report also calls for a new cabinet minister for children to oversee the national strategy.

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