The National Youth Agency: Comment - Could we better burn the fat?

It seems obesity among the young has risen from one in 10 in 1995 to one in seven in 2003, even higher among those in families with unemployment.

The report from the formidable triumvirate identified a muddled chain of command between the five government departments involved, dozens of specialist bodies and a plethora of local bodies. "It was clear that individuals could not understand the purpose and functions of those from other agencies," it said. The Times newspaper had a wonderfully convoluted diagram looking like a mad tube map to try to illustrate this, showing the various organisations and initiatives including youth sport trusts, primary care trusts and Sure Start. Reform of school meals was mentioned; involvement in sport and more play provision were highlighted.