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Latest Government Report

England to have 13m obese by 2010
England to have 13m obese by 2010
More than 12m adults and one million children will be obese by 2010 if no action is taken, a report by the Department of Health is predicting.

The Health Survey for England also warns 22% of boys and 19% of girls aged two to 15 will be obese.

The figures would mean the government would fail to meet its target to halt the rise in childhood obesity.

The report also says having two obese parents means children have five times the risk of being obese themselves.

We want to see these words turned into actions
Douglas Smallwood, Diabetes UK

One in four children in households where both parents are obese is obese themselves, compared to one in 20 in households where both parents are a healthy weight.

In households where one parent is obese, one in eight children is also dangerously overweight.

The report warns that, based on current trends, 33% of men and 28% of women will be obese by 2010.

The government says it is the "most accurate estimate so far" of future obesity rates.

The data is published just days after a "minister for fitness" was appointed.

Caroline Flint will be working across all government departments to develop a new fitness strategy for England.

'Food for thought'

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "With children heading back to school in September, these statistics should give parents food for thought on how to make their kids' lifestyles healthier.

"We are intervening and helping to make a difference, but we want today's figures to act as a stark reminder of the problem we and our children will face if we don't act now and start making healthier lifestyle choices."

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The government's got a responsibility to make it easier for people to make healthy choices for themselves.

"But at the end of the day, it's up to each of us to decide what we eat, what we drink, how much exercise we take and how we bring our children up."

'Small changes'

Campaigners said urgent action was needed.

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY
Eat regular, balanced meals
Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
Avoid foods that are very high in sugar and/or fat
Eat less than 6g of salt/day
If you drink alcohol, drink it in moderation
For adults: 30 minutes moderate activity five times a week
For children: an hour a day of moderate activity

Maura Gillespie, head of policy and public affairs at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: "These figures are of no surprise to us - we are rapidly becoming a nation bursting at the seams.

"We are all going to have to work together to curb these figures and the risk to our nation's health."

She called on the government to place restrictions on junk food advertisements targeting children before the 9pm TV watershed.

Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: "Not all people with diabetes are overweight, but at diagnosis 80% of those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were overweight.

HAVE YOUR SAY
Do what is needed - restore playing fields and have daily gym classes for all the kids
Paula, Dorset
"If obesity rates continue to rise at such a rapid rate the number of deaths due to diabetes will increase in line with this.

"This is not to mention the blindness, amputations and strokes which the condition can also lead to.

"We're delighted to see the commitment voiced by the government on tackling this huge problem. But we want to see these words turned into actions."