Experts say income can be a key factor in child obesity

A conference in Dundee will hear that too many youngsters - particularly in deprived communities - still have a poor diet.

Delegates will be told children from less fortunate backgrounds often have a poorer quality of diet compared to youngsters from more affluent areas.

They are therefore at higher risk of health problems later in life.

Poor nutrition is linked to obesity and diseases such as Type 2 diabetes - previously more common in middle age - is now being seen in teenagers.

Those attending the Tackling Nutrition-related Health Inequalities in Children event will examine the complex reasons behind bad diet and what can be done to tackle nutrition-related health inequalities.

As a society we can, and must, do more to ensure that all of our children grow up in an environment which encourages healthy eating Dr Drew Walker NHS Tayside Child obesity 'form of neglect'

They will be told it is essential to reverse the trend of poor eating habits among Scotland's children.

NHS Tayside director of public health, Dr Drew Walker, who will chair the conference, said it was well known that health inequalities exist and are increasing.

He added: "Scotland's future depends on the health of our children.

"We know that the food that many of our children are eating is contributing to health problems now and will adversely affect their health in the future. This is especially true in our more deprived communities.

"As a society we can, and must, do more to ensure that all of our children grow up in an environment which encourages healthy eating and discourages the increasing consumption of foods which are helping to widen the health divide."

Topics for discussion at the conference will include maternal nutrition, the importance of breastfeeding and the best ways to support breastfeeding, delayed weaning and the role played by school meals.

The one-day event has been organised by NHS Tayside, NHS Health Scotland and the Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland.

It also found that some doctors now believe that in extreme cases overfeeding a young child should be seen as a form of abuse or neglect.