Dr Reilly: "Obesity epidemic"

A study by American researchers has found that many parents are putting pressure on their daughters at such an early age that they develop unhealthy pre-occupations with their weight by the time they start school.

The conference heard that a study of five to nine year olds found that girls whose parents stopped them eating junk or snack foods were at much greater risk of suffering weight and eating problems as they grew up.

Professor Leann Birch, a child nutritionist from Pennsylvania State University in the USA, said: ""Basically, parents restrict kids' access and it makes kids want those foods even more.

"When parents aren't around to restrict those foods, kids tend to eat more of them, be more interested in getting hold of them."

Dr John Reilly of Glasgow University said: "The major driving force behind the recent obesity epidemic has actually been reduced physical activity.

"The key to preventing the problem seems to be addressing that issue and trying to get children to become more active."