Report laments children's lack of physical activity

A report from the cross-party Commons health select committee calls for nutrition policies in all England's schools.

It says there should be lessons in cooking healthily - and much more physical activity.

But it also warns against stigmatising fat children.

'Trendy junk'

A problem identified by researchers has been that children see junk food as "fun, trendy, sexy and exciting".

Campaigners have called for tighter controls on advertising - and an effort to make traditional foods just as glamorous.

The MPs want children to have practical lessons on healthy cooking

The MPs want the food technology curriculum to be revised so children of all ages get practical training - and know how to distinguish fact from marketing by food manufacturers.

They say understanding the importance of healthy eating "is meaningless without the skills to put these messages into practice".

There is a clear demand from pupils and their teachers for specialist training and this should not be "an optional extra".

The MPs have more than a dozen recommendations directly involving schools, including:

• training on choosing and preparing healthy food
• lessons in food labelling and distinguishing advertising from fact
• Ofsted inspection of the food technology curriculum and physical activities
• all schools should develop nutrition policies
• government guidance against sponsorship from manufacturers of unhealthy foods
• nutrient-based standards for school breakfasts
• new standards for school lunches - as in Scotland
• higher targets for physical activity
• dance and aerobics to counter "elitism" and bullying in changing rooms
• safer routes to school
• annual weight checks, reported to parents

The report says exercise is also a priority.

It commends government efforts to encourage youngsters to do more, but says it is "lamentable" that most still do not get even two hours a week of sport and physical activity.

Longer day

A "fascinating" project devised by Labour MP Barry Gardiner needs to be rigorously evaluated and should have more government funding.

He has persuaded a number of secondary schools in his north London constituency to try extending the school day from this autumn.

This will allow for a guaranteed two hours of physical activity every afternoon, coupled with "healthy, balanced meals".

The MPs say there is "ample evidence that being physically active benefits children's academic performance" - and note that many independent schools offer four or more hours of exercise a week.

Pilot schemes

The Department for Education and Skills said it was working to ensure that healthy living became a fundamental part of school life.

School governors' lunchbox tips

The government was investing more than �1bn to "transform school sport".

Children already learned about diet, hygiene, nutrition, cooking and the benefits of healthy eating, along with an active lifestyle, through a range of subjects.

The department was working with the health department to help schools plan their food education.

"This includes eight pilot projects looking at a range of things from healthier tuck shops to water provision, and training for primary teachers working with expert secondary food technology teachers," it said.

It was also working with the Food Standards Agency to monitor how effectively standards for school meals were being met in 80 secondary schools in England.

But Liberal Democrat health spokesman Paul Burstow, a member of the committee which produced the report, said ministers had presided over an obesity "epidemic".

It was time for them to stop their "dither and delay".

Shadow health secretary Tim Yeo said: "The report reconfirms our long-held concern that Labour has failed to tackle the problem of obesity.

"After seven years in office, and a disastrously muddled attitude to public health, it's time the government gave this crucial issue the attention it deserves."