Perhaps the Government should instruct local councils to stop selling off playing fields to property developers - and perhaps parents should just learn to say no! Children are short and have no money - put fatty foods high up or just don't buy them in the first place!
Kate Ryan, SurreyChild obesity can only be tackled if parents start getting tougher with their children's eating habits, instead of letting them dictate what they want. The other problem is if the parents are obese themselves - children see what their parents are doing and follow their example. The law/authorities should start punishing parents for child abuse if they let their children's weight get out of control through their bad management. Glenn Renshaw, Newbury, Berkshire
There is not point of pouring money into government initiatives that in the past have proved to be a waste of time. I believe the best way to control the problem is to control spending on fatty foods. The Government can manage the level of economic activity by regulating taxation. For example, by providing a tax-free personal allowance on savings of a certain amount per year, they have encouraged greater saving. Another example would be the congestion charge imposed in London which has limited the amount of traffic. It is clear that the best way to manage the nation's habits and choices is through a medium that matters to it the most - money. As a result, to encourage healthy eating, the best action would be to increase duty on foods over a certain fat and sugar content, to a level that would deter substantial population from purchasing the food. The advantage is that even if the deterrent fails, the Government will collect more money in the process from tax which can hopefully be spent on the people. Stan Adams, Luton
Ban food of all kinds from cinemas. The wall of sweets that confronts a parent taking children to the cinema is mind-boggling, not to mention very expensive. Add to that mountains of nachos dripping with cheese, hot dogs, bucketfuls of popcorn, gallons of fizzy drinks - no wonder the poor kids are fat! Here we go . . . in my day, we had a small orange drink and maybe an ice cream at the interval. Oh, and possibly a "poke of chips" on the way home. Could the Government not spend some of their millions in compensation money to the sweet suppliers? Joanne Watt, Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
I think childhood obesity is a growing problem, just like any other that has to be handled properly. I have to agree with Alex Carter (below) when he comments on the fact that schools are looking at children and judging them. I do believe it is a good idea to educate the future generations about obesity and healthier diets, but to pick a child out of the class and humiliate him or her? It is just like picking a Muslim out of a crowd of Christian - it's not something that should be done. We do see children who are clearly overweight and we think how awful it is, but in all of this who is affected? This child is the main victim. From a surprisingly early age, a child knows when he is different to his companions. He begins to compare himself. What good will come when others start comparing him too? A substantial rise in teenage suicides can be expected if such actions are taken. I believe that the government has a duty to solve this issue with taste and discretion towards the parties most at risk. They should also be taking steps into the future, to combat the continuing levels of obesity on our society. Anna Grant-Casey, Bicester, Oxfordshire
This Government seems to find fault with one issue after another after another: hunting foxes, feeding children, making jokes about other cultures; everything is negative; everything is to be controlled by the Government. People must have a chance to learn from their own mistakes and to take responsibility for their own actions. The Government and the media need to focus on positive behaviour if they wish to be useful. Name and address withheld
Being fat is not a crime. It seems that chubbiness is following smoking as a deadly sin of our time. Let people eat, grow fat and die early if they want. More misery is being created by this anti-fat witch hunt than would have existed without such a spotlight being directed on those who enjoy their food. Our eating habits are largely a factor of our hectic lifestyles. Poor diet can be added to the list of social problems caused by modern living arrangements, along with increased rates of stress, depression, drug abuse, family breakdown and crime. If we really want to improve peoples' lives, we need to address the root of all these issues, rather than merely attacking families for the problems they face, and piling guilt on top of their other worries. Alex McGregor, Plymouth
On one hand people complain about the nanny state, while on the other they want the Government to control our eating habits. Why should the Government interfere in this matter? There is enough information available for people to make judgments on behalf of their children. The problem goes back more than a generation. Present-day mothers and grandmothers have relied mainly on processed or ready meals. This country has the highest consumption of such food per capita. A large part of the population cannot prepare a meal from basic ingredients and as is well known, all processed and ready meals contain more than the prescribed amounts of salt, sugar and fat. Vinay Mehra, Purley, Surrey
As we all know, many Government initiatives end in failure. This one, however, may really be a devilishly complicated and devious attempt to solve the pensions crisis in 50 years' time. Michael Smith, Southampton
Childhood obesity can only be tackled by phasing out the NHS to be replaced by healthcare based on insurance premiums and lifestyle choices. Only when the parents of these individuals and they themselves are hit in their own pockets will anything change. If the NHS in its present form did not exist then childhood obesity would be of no interest to anyone but those directly involved because the taxpayer would not have to pick up the tab. The furore over childhood obesity is, in effect, another wonderful creation of socialist policies - as are all the ridiculous organisations charged to control the problem. When, oh when, will we learn that human beings only respond to the stick and never the carrot. Derek Sinclair, Dundee
The rising epidemic of childhood obesity raises the real possibility of our children having a shorter life expectancy than our own, which is a serious reverse in comparison with the dramatic strides in child health seen in the UK during the twentieth century. It is therefore of interest that in the illustration used by The Times on February 28 of the different agencies involved in the Government's strategy to deal with this serious problem, the child and his /her parents were missing. Child health professionals endeavour to work around the child and their families. Is it any surprise therefore that when these two indispensable elements appear have not been included that the obesity strategy is foundering? Dr EL Chandrakantha and Dr AN Williams, Northampton
I am a health and physical activity manager, and have recently finished a pilot project engaging obese young people in a specific activity programme. Involving 45 young people during three months, specific holiday provision, lectures on nutrition and various support packs were introduced through non-threatening and fun environments. All of the above took place with no strategic plan or a sceptical eye on PSA targets, but just common sense and enthusiasm. The result: change in behaviour, actual understanding of the problem, and a fresh and energetic approach to tackling the problem. Obesity may be easy to quantify, hard to justify, but there must be more championing of activities that are centred to young people's needs, fun and enjoyable if we want to see long term solutions and not just flashes in the Government's PSA pan. Alex Heritage, Stockport
Looking at all the organisations involved, it’s clear the government has its own obesity problem. Denise Webb, London
