A report published by the Royal Society for Public Health in England has revealed that one in four children have ordered takeaway for their school lunch.
The research which polled 570 teenagers ad 2,000 adults found that takeaway food is a significant reason that one in six under-16s are obese in England.
“Our childhood obesity rates are disappointing, and tackling this must be a priority for Government,” RSPH chief executive Shirley Cramer said.
“There can be no excuses for fudging action on what is our number one public health challenge.”
According to reports, almost half of those who took part in the poll had ordered a takeaway to school with their smartphone – something the RSPH wants to see banned.
The society also wants to see supermarkets giving “wonky” fruit to kids for free and to make sure all packages are labelled with the entire fat and sugar content, not just per serving.
“While we welcome the government’s introduction of a sugar levy on soft drinks, it is absolutely critical that the forthcoming childhood obesity strategy builds on this positive step with a basket of hard-hitting measures, from greater controls on advertising and marketing of junk food, to food reformulation,” Ms Cramer added.
“This report gives a uniquely young person’s perspective on what steps can and should be taken, and while there is no silver bullet, young people are very clear what they think the causes of obesity are, and what action they would like to see from government and industry in particular.”
