The Early Bird programme, which is tracking hundreds of children to attempt to determine the causes of childhood obesity, risks collapsing if it cannot secure funding from the UK government. The Conservatives have alleged that the reason the government is not providing extra funding is because the initial findings of the study directly contradict Labour’s anti-obesity strategy, notably its support of physical activity measures to combat childhood obesity.
As part of the study, researchers based in Plymouth are painstakingly mapping out the development of more than 300 children to determine what lies behind obesity and diabetes. Each year, the children are fitted with accelerometers which record their activity over the course of a week. Findings show that the amount of exercise children are getting is genetically set, and did not have anything to do with access to sports facilities. The programme director, Professor James Wilkin, has also found no demonstrable direct correlation between physical activity and a child’s BMI.
Despite local backing and corporate sponsorship, the project is running out of money; however, ministers have failed to meet Professor Wilkin's team to discuss the crisis.
Professor Philip James of the International Obesity Task Force said it is easier for the government to concentrate on promoting sport rather than taking on the food industry, which is 'the biggest manufacturing sector in the whole of Europe ... [with] enormous political and strategic power. Government would very much like to focus on physical activity, don't you think?'
To hear coverage of the story from the BBC's Today Programme, including an interview with the Shadow Health Secretary, click here >>
To read more about the Early Bird programme, click here >>
Source: BBC News, 13 March 2007