The Obesity Health Alliance has expressed concern about the increased risks to children’s health caused by the delay of the Government’s Childhood Obesity Strategy.

The Government’s strategy has already been delayed for months but the Department of Health has confirmed that it will not be published until the summer, after the European referendum. The group says it is vital that the Prime Minister shows strong leadership and calls on the Government to take urgent steps to address the obesity crisis.

The group has set out three key actions that it wants the Government to implement in its Childhood Obesity Strategy. This includes targets for food manufacturers to reduce the amount of saturated fat, salt and added sugar in their foods, meaningful restrictions to reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing, and a 20 per cent tax on sugar sweetened beverages.

Chris Askew, Diabetes UK chief executive, said: “It is disappointing that the Government has once again delayed the publication of its Childhood Obesity Strategy. Every day that goes by without tough new measures to deal with the obesity crisis means that more children are going to be at risk of developing serious, and preventable, health conditions in later life such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.”