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The joint study published today by the Health Care Commission, the National Audit Office and Audit Commission says that without clear leadership from government departments, the target of halting obesity in children under 11 by 2010 will fail, and it cites too few staff and a lack of specific funding as problems.
Junk food, too little exercise and an increasingly sedentary life style, all well-known factors in the spiraling problem of childhood obesity in Britain. The causes are clear, but the government's efforts to tackle the problem are inefficient, confused and under-resourced according to Today's Report.
Obesity costs the NHS one billion pounds a year, and blights the health of up to one million children under 16. Doctors say this could be the first generation for decades to die before their parents unless urgent action is taken. Yet, progress is so slow according to Today's Report that the government risks missing its target of halting obesity in children under 11 by 2010. The Health Care Commission, Audit Commission and National Audit Office're pointing out it's taken 31 experts 18 months to agree how to measure obesity. The report says there are many initiatives to tackle the problem, but no specific funding. It complains that many organizations involved are unclear about their roles, causing potential confusion and wasting resources. And it adds that there are too few frontline staff to deal with the complex problem of obesity.
"What is needed is more leadership from the government departments involved, that then needs to flow down to clearer programmes and funding at the regional level, and that in turn needs to flow down to better guidance and support and advice for those actually working with children. "
The fight against obesity in children has backing at the highest level of government, yet the report claims that a clear lack of direction is hampering the efforts of five government departments at hundreds of local organizations.
"People are eating more processed foods, and also doing less exercise, and we are trying to turn that around, and the Healthy Start Scheme, the free food in schools, but also working with families as well as school's health authorities and others, is part of that, but it's a, it isn't an easy task. "
Recent initiatives have included replacing junk food in schools with healthy alternatives, largely as a result of a campaign by TV chef Jenny Oliver. There is evidence of changing eating habits in Britain. Fast food chain McDonald's has decided to close 25 branches around the country because of falling sales.
But Today's Report warns that children face adulthood illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease if the obesity strategy isn't speeded up.
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