Lessons in health

SIR – While all the usual solutions to childhood obesity (Letters, June 1) are being trotted out, no one mentions the main reason that children (and adults) are overweight: poor knowledge of how to eat healthily and cook nutritious meals.

Too many young people are fed a diet of ready meals, which require no effort or thought. Removing chocolate and sweets from the till areas at supermarkets may sound impressive, but it will not address this problem.

Schools should teach children how to make healthy meals and educate them in what to avoid. It’s time to bring back domestic science. Marilyn Parrott

Altrincham, Cheshire

SIR – Stephen Bevan (Letters, June 2) highlights how, the more common obesity becomes, the more nasty people are about it .

More of the public are obese because they are eating too much – but there are various reasons for this, and it doesn’t make them bad people.

With binge eating disorder, there is so much stigma attached that some sufferers will never seek help, and may not realise they have a mental problem, as it is often dismissed as greed. A severely overweight person may be in great emotional and mental pain; but the more embarrassed they are about it, the less likely they are to discuss and do something about it. Emilie Lamplough

Trowbridge, Wiltshire