Weighty problem

Ordering the food and restaurant industry to reduce the size of sausages, quiches and pies in a bid to cut obesity smacks of nanny statism – and misses the point.

Education is far more likely to change behaviour than instructions from on high. cookery, home economics and food technology lessons in schools have a huge part to play here but are often neglected.

and lack of exercise is just as much to blame for excess flab as overeating, yet competitive sport to a high level has little priority in most schools.

If we really want to reduce obesity, we must start with the basics.