One in 10 children under 12 are classed as obese

First Minister Jack McConnell is expected to announce measures on Tuesday to encourage youngsters to exercise more.

It follows a report which put Scottish children as the third fattest in Europe on average.

Tory MSPs said the new drive amounts to government "interference".

'Alarm bell'

They claim the drive will pay insufficient heed to the role of schools and parents.

Mr McConnell is expected to announce the appointment of "active schools co-ordinators" for each secondary school, to encourage youngsters to be more active.

Currently one in 10 children in Scotland aged 12 are classed as severely obese and one in three are overweight.

Tory health spokesman David Davidson said the findings "should act as a wake-up call to everyone."

The responsibility for our children's health lies with their parents David Davidson

He added: "But whilst sharing the concern of others, I have to question whether spending �24m on pen pushers and fat tsars is the right response.

"The responsibility for our children's health lies with their parents.

"It is their duty to provide balanced and nutritional meals and to encourage an active lifestyle."

Mr McConnell is expected to tell an audience in Port Glasgow on Wednesday that the health of future generations is necessary for the future prosperity of Scotland.

"Eating well and regular physical activity are the best and easiest ways any individual can improve their health," he is due to say.

"But it is the responsibility of government to take the lead on the promotion of a healthier lifestyle for all and, as recent reports show, we will still have much to do."

The first minister will describe the recently-published statistics on obesity as an "alarm bell" to be heeded.

Last January the executive launched a multi-million pound healthy eating campaign to try to tackle the obesity epidemic.