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Doctors warn of child obesity 'state of emergency'
Doctors are warning that childhood obesity has now reached a "state of emergency" and requires a special government taskforce like the Cobra committee.
The Royal College of GPs along with 11 other organisations say the health service will struggle to cope with the mounting cost of obesity unless urgent action is taken now.
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Doctors outline series of measures to tackle obesity
The Royal College of GPs has outlined a number of measures it wants to see to help combat the scourge of childhood obesity.
The recommendations are aimed at both health professionals and patients and include:
- Increased support for the National Child Measurement Programme.
- Improved investment in data-gathering IT programmes for weight management.
- More training in malnutrition and obesity for GPs and other health professionals.
- Outreach projects to educate families about the dangers of obesity.
Current generation 'could predecease their parents'
The scale of health problems facing tyoungsters mean they could be the first generation to be outlived by their parents, a leading doctor has warned.
Dr Richard Roope, the Royal College of GPs' (RCGP) clinical lead for cancer, said there needed to be "radical steps" to tackle obesity, which he said is the second biggest reversible cause of cancer after smoking.
His warning comes alongside an open letter from the RCGP to the Chief Medical Officer for England, warning that child obesity has reached a "state of emergency".
“We have a huge problem when seven-year-olds present with type 2 diabetes, previously associated with the weight gain of middle age," Dr Roope said.
"Our children are among the most overweight in Europe."
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Doctors warn of child obesity 'state of emergency'
Doctors are warning that childhood obesity has now reached a "state of emergency" and requires a special government taskforce like the Cobra committee.
The Royal College of GPs along with 11 other organisations say the health service will struggle to cope with the mounting cost of obesity unless urgent action is taken now.
They have written an open letter to the Chief Medical Officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, outlining their concerns.
The letter claims that "an entire generation is being destroyed by a diet of junk food and sugary drinks".
Dr Rachel Pryke, who is the RCGP's 'clinical champion' for nutrition, said youngsters were being "set up for a lifetime of sickness".