A new interactive exhibit at Disney’s Epcot Centre, Florida has sparked controversy as the war against child obesity continues. The new feature is called Habit Heroes, consisting of heroes Callie Stenics and Will Power. The heroes lead the fight against the villains who have names like (more…)

A report compiled by researchers at Newcastle University has revealed that children are being exposed to more TV ads for junk food since the introduction of new regulations. In 2007, new regulations were introduced by Ofcom to prevent foods which have high levels of sugar, fat and salt being displayed during the hours when children’s programmes were being aired on TV. The new regulations were (more…)

According to research carried out by Nottingham University, allowing babies to eat finger foods could help to reduce levels of childhood obesity. The researchers also found that babies who were fed pureed foods using a spoon, tended to be more likely to become overweight.

The study involved 155 children, aged between 20 months and six years of age. Parents completed questionnaires with details of their child’s eating habits. The children were split into two groups; (more…)

More than 100 children and youngsters have been helped by the air ambulance service in Dorset and Somerset during the last year. Donations keep the crucial air service running and (more…)

New guidelines for nutrition have been launched by The School Food Trust, a charity which is working hard to reduce the rising levels of child obesity. The guidelines are for pre-school age children, and have been welcomed by Dr Caroline Gamlin, director of public health in Somerset.

The guidelines are aimed at childcare providers and are to be adopted on a voluntary basis. The new guide (more…)

A controversial advertising campaign aimed at highlighting the issue of childhood obesity has caused outrage in the United States, but has been accepted in the UK. The adverts, which are designed to shock, feature real children who are obese with slogans on them. One reads “Warning. It’s hard to be a little girl if you’re not” and “My fat may be funny to you, but it’s killing me”.

The adverts have won the approval of the chairman (more…)

As the level of teenage drinking continues to rise, Roisin Shortall, the Irish health minister has made the suggestion that permitting teenagers to consume alcohol in the home could be a contributory factor of substance abuse among youths. Although the minister recognises that most parents allow consumption of alcohol at home in order to encourage a responsible attitude towards drinking, she believes that this practice may cause more harm.

According to the minister for health, alcohol is more damaging to teenagers than (more…)

MP Diane Abbott said in an interview with The Standard, that children must be allowed to play in the street in order to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity. The Labour MP believes that many children become obese as their parents are afraid to let them play outdoors. She also stated that the present day culture of PlayStation 3 (more…)

Data released by the National Health Service reveals that 33 children are admitted to hospital each day in England, with drink related problems. The NHS figures also reveal that 7034 kids under 18 years old received treatment for problems related to drinking alcohol in the first six months of 2011.

The statistics prove just how many kids, with some as young as (more…)

A child aged five years old has been taken into care, because the parents couldn’t bring the child’s weight under control. Legal reasons prevent the child from being named, but Tameside council social services, Greater Manchester decided that the child should be placed in care. This is the second time that the local authority has taken a child into care for obesity reasons.

The child reportedly weighed about 4 stone 4lb, which is about (more…)