Thanks for a great 4x4 about diet. I have a toddler and I already find it really hard visiting the supermarket and finding healthy food. Some supermarkets do not stock full fat yoghurt with no sugar and very few restuarants serve anything other than chicken nuggets and chips for children. How can we teach children about nutrition when their choice only consists of fatty fried foods foods? We can try to be responsible parents but sometimes the choice can restrict us.
Marise Chisnall, UK

There is a consultation paper with DEFRA at this time on the subject of the connection of M.PARA.TB/Crohns/IBD.and pasteurised milk that is

I thought "Diets in the Dock" was an amazingly informative and highly topical programme. The statistics discussed are evidence that something radical has to be done.

Kate Byrne, UK

not pasteurised. Why will the dairy industrynot turn up the heat to destroy this bacteria which causes so much pain and suffering in animals and humans, destroying lives and families,all for money? �54 million from the EC to give "contaminated" milk to children at school. Why has the increase in children with Crohns dramatically increased on the NACC's books?
Tim Page, United Kingdom

I thought "Diets in the Dock" was an amazingly informative and highly topical programme. The statistics discussed are evidence that something radical on the educational front has to be done in relation to what is in our diet and how it impacts our health, especially that of our children! Keep up the great work!! One of the very few shows worth watching.
Kate Byrne, UK

I saw your latest show about diets. I'm 13 and was wondering how to make my diet a healthy one. I don't eat many veg or fruit because I don't really like them. Is this going to be a problem for me in the future? How can I make fruit or veg more interesting?
Rose, England

My mum is diabetic with insulin dependance and she is far from overweight. She is petite, yet everytime the BBC report on the subject it is because of overeating or having high sugar diets. I accept that these can cause diabetes, but you always concentrate on the wrong side of it. I have to live with someone with diabetes, she has to cope with it, I have to cope with it, but she did not deserve what she has and reporting like this does not help.
Kristan, UK

I was a fat kid and that was long before fast foods, so why are people now trying to blame fast food?

John Jackson, England

The Diets in the Dock programme about acrylamide is the most frightening news I have ever encountered. Thank you for this info. I want to throw all my baked and fried food in the bin (if I can persuade my husband to take this seriously) you could be saving those one out of every three lives by airing this programme! Well done.
Annemarie Riggs, England

I would like to say that not all fast food is junk food. Subway offers a range of sandwiches which are all under 6 grams of fat.
Lisa Alexander, England

At 47 years old, your report about diets & junk food comes just that bit late for me. In Jan 2002 my weight had grown to 4st. so I kicked out all junk food sugars & flours before it was just to late. I am now down to 35st and waiting for my stomach to be stapled. I was a fat kid and that was long before fast foods, so why are people now trying to blame fast food? It should be down to the parents to watch what the kids are eating and to help them - not just give them money to go and buy what they want. I stole money as a kid to buy food and freinds because being fat that's what you have to do.
John Jackson, England

School meals are mostly to blame for the fat kids. They produce the wrong sort of food and the portions are too small

Penny Gray, England

Dear 4x4 Reports, I enjoyed your programme today and I thought I should do a project on healthy eating I am 10 years old.
Joseph, England

Your programme tonight was very interesting. I have 2 children - a boy of 6 and a girl of 16 months. Since birth I have given my children healthy food. I have taken the trouble to make all my all own meals and sourced all the food I buy in order to ensure they have a healthy diet. I find that the problem lies with the school and their meals. I do not expect a plate overflowing with food, but I have seen the portions that they get and they are small, especially for growing children. Often a school menu will consist mainly of carbohydrates e.g pasta, chips, sweetcorn and one sausage, followed by a choice of sweet - a piece of cake or a yoghurt. Vegetables are of the tinned variety and taste the same. No wonder children do not like veg. I would be prepared to pay that little extra for a meal if I could see better food, but our county seems to think that price is more important. School meals are mostly to blame for the fat kids. They produce the wrong sort of food and the portions are too small so kids come home hungry and stuff themselves.
Penny Gray, England

The researchers for this programme may well like to know about the suggestion of a low carbohydrate, high protein diet with regular fat intake. I found out about this from a book by Prof. Brian Peskin titled Radiant Health,

I have been through a year's counselling as the media and society makes fat people feel inadequate and lazy.

Tracey Dean, England

Moving Beyond the Zone. More than weight loss, it's weight management and top physical and mental conditioning... Cutting sugars is good, but it's carbohydrates consumed in excess of 60g per day, whether as sugar or not, which are the danger. Fast, fatty, food is bad, of course...!
Colin Heesom, UK

I was very interested in your report on overweight children and type II diabetes. I have been obese most of my life. I am now in my 30s and I have had type II diabetes for 8 years. I have no argument that diet can cause this type of diabetes but I didn't like the way the overweight were portrayed as lazy and not doing any exercise. I have always done a lot of exercise. I have just returned from a 200km 4 day bike ride in France. I will play 4 hours of tennis this week, which I do at least every week. I also swim about a mile once or twice a week. I have been on numerous diets that only work temporarily. I am currently on a diet that seems to be working. I am at my lowest weight, 16.7 stone, for years. I know I am not alone in being overweight but still being very active. I have been through a year's counselling as the media and society makes fat people feel inadequate and lazy. The programme at times seemed to be portraying fat people as lazy. My life has been made hell because of the horrible comments that people make about my size. It would be nice to hear that sometimes overweight people are not overweight because they sit around all day - inactive and eating crisps sweets and chips.
Tracey Dean, England

I watched your programme last night and felt it was extremely well balanced and informative. I work for the BetaCell Diabetes Centre at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.
Mr David Henry, UK

As the Kids' Cookery School (KCS) we are the first registered charity to work with children from 3 years upwards to help improve their understanding of the importance of nutrition and healthy eating.

Fiona Hamilton-Fairley, England

Much of the 'healthy diet' industry in this country concentrates on the 'low fat/low calorie' is good for you message. The fact is, that it is an excess of carbohydrate and sugar in the diet that causes weight gain. People should realise that cutting out bread, pasta, rice, sugar, and other processed foods high in carbs, is the most effective method of losing weight, and keeping it off, the better. My diet consists of any meats, any fishes, cheese, eggs, cream, certain vegetables, and berries. That's a much healthier diet than most people eat.
Tom Jeffs, UK

I found last nights Diet in the Dock documentary very interesting. As a parent of 4 young children I was especially interested in the section on children's diet.
Guy Gampell, UK

We watched the previous 4x4 report regarding the true cost of a poor diet with much interest and it comes as no surprise as we work with many children whose diet is poor. As the Kids' Cookery School (KCS) we are the first registered charity to work with children from 3 years upwards to help improve their understanding of the importance of nutrition and healthy eating. We promote hands-on practical skills in purpose designed kitchens to encourage all children to lead a healthier lifestyle. In essence we are a preventive medicine. Should you be interested in contacting KCS, our stats include having taught over 3,500 children since opening in April 2000, with 30% special needs. The boy-girl ratio is approximately 48% boys, with over 40% ethnic minorities attending, and over 50% of our places being awarded on an assisted basis.
Fiona Hamilton-Fairley, England