BRIEFING: Research report - Childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is a political hot potato (more likely fried than baked) and, if experts are to believed, it's becoming a bigger problem.

Recent reports from Kids' Clubs Network and Childwise, the market research organisation, also show how difficult it is to gather consistent data on the subject.

Kids' Clubs Network conducted its Food for Thought research in partnership with Sainsbury's. It found that eight out of 10 kids knew they were supposed to eat five pieces of fruit and vegetable a day, and said that adults supplied children with the "bad" aspects of their diet. However, the report also admitted that children used money provided by their parents to buy sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks.

Meanwhile, Childwise's Winter 2003/04 Monitor, which surveyed 1,131 children and young people aged five to 17 from 60 schools, didn't find such a general awareness of healthy eating habits. Indeed, only one in 10 knew they should eat five portions of fruit and veg a day.

Fruit and veg didn't figure too highly on their school lunch diets either.

More than half ate crisps regularly, 35 per cent ate chips, 44 per cent regularly ate a chocolate bar and one in four regularly ate pizza for lunch.

Rosemary Duff, director of Childwise, thinks that while children know in theory what's healthy and what isn't, in practice they usually "go for something they like".

She also believes problems begin at home. "With more mums working, they have less time with their children," she says, "so they don't want confrontation and take the easy way out."

FACT BOX

- One in five children in the UK is overweight, three times higher than 20 years ago

- 85 per cent of kids eat more sugar than is recommended

- The Childwise eating habits survey is part of its larger Monitor 2003/04 Survey, which costs 895. Call 01603 630054, fax 01603 664083, or email orders@childwise.co.uk

- Contact Kids' Clubs Network for more information on Food for Thought. www.kidsclubs.com.