RAMPANT obesity among children threatens to reverse rises in life expectancy in the UK, the country鈥檚 鈥渇ood tsar鈥� has warned in an attack on the 鈥渇ast-food, couch potato鈥� culture sweeping the nation鈥檚 youth. If nothing is done, 鈥渇or the first time in a hundred years life expectancy will actually go down鈥�, John Krebs, chairman of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) told the London-based newspaper The Observer.
His comments have ignited a debate about whether fast food advertising aimed at children should be banned, and whether the food industry should be forced to add less salt, sugar and fat to foods marketed to children. 鈥淲e are staring at a public health time bomb,鈥� said Krebs. Nearly 10 per cent of 6-year-olds and 15 per cent of 15-year-olds are obese. Some estimate that the problem could cut life expectancy by nine years.
Solutions proposed in an FSA discussion paper, which include restrictions on advertising, will be discussed by the agency鈥檚 board in February, following a period of public consultation. 鈥淲e are keeping an open mind,鈥� an agency spokesman told New 杏吧原创. 鈥淏ut doing nothing is not an option.鈥�
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