Who is really to blame for the obesity crisis facing our children?

THE Government’s drive to curb obesity by increasing taxes on sugary foods is to be applauded. However, it is unlikely that those addicted to these foods will reduce their intake just because of increased prices. The tax should be part of a campaign to persuade people to stick to three meals a day. Thanks to burger bars on every High Street, some people have four or even five meals a day. Is the obesity crisis attributable to high sugar content or the high volume of food intake?

IAN STROMDALE, Essex. THE obesity crisis is down to the fact too many parents are not able to cook. I brought up my children to eat proper food. Don’t give me the excuse that mums are at work — so was my generation. My sister offered some of her home-grown runner beans to her neighbour, who didn’t know what they were let alone how to cook them.

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WHY is obesity being blamed on the government? When are parents going to take responsibility? It is their duty to make sure their children have a balanced diet.

GLen BirKWOOD, Staines, Surrey. WALK around any supermarket and watch the young mothers with children in tow, their trolleys piled high with pre-prepared foods and sugar-laden puddings and drinks. They have no idea what to do with fresh produce. Cheap carbohydrates fill up youngsters. Meat and two veg is considered to be burgers or sausages with chips and beans. Schools should be giving lessons in cooking healthy, inexpensive meals. If children are given a wide variety of foods, they won’t become fussy eaters. Another cause of obesity is that children are sitting in front of TVs and computers mindlessly shovelling in food without even tasting it. We must get back to sitting around a table as a family, discussing the day and eating together so children can appreciate food and think about what they are putting in their mouths.

GinA ScOttinG, Lancing, W. Sussex.

MY MOTHER was a school dinner lady in London in the Fifties, cooking meat, potatoes and vegetables followed by a pudding, thereby ensuring pupils had at least one wholesome meal a day. Then her hours were cut and she was told to give the children sandwiches and cakes. When I was growing up, no one ate between meals and there weren’t lots of snacks containing huge amounts of sugar, white flour and fat.

SHeiLA AttWAter, Swindon, Wilts. IT HAS been suggested that obese people could start work an hour later in order to avoid embarrassment while using public transport. Why can’t they start an hour earlier? Why would anyone think it a good idea for an obese person to spend more time in bed or having a leisurely breakfast?

SAnDrA tUtiLL, York.