One in five children starting school in England is classed as overweight or obese. It is clear measures to tackle obesity need to reach children and their parents earlier.
Early years settings such as nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are well-placed to encourage healthy eating at an early stage, embedding knowledge and understanding that will help a child make healthy choices throughout their life, explains Jo Baranek, lead early years adviser at the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA).
"Educating children and encouraging healthy eating as a habit from early on is crucial," she says. "Nurseries have that close contact with families and can work together on giving children the best nutritional start."
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