ACS

We all need to be more active and eat more healthily to halt the rising tide of obesity. If we do nothing, by 2050 90 per cent of today's children will be overweight and at risk from serious diseases - that's the message issued today by health secretary, Alan Johnson, as he launched the Change4Life coalition.

Change4Life is a lifestyle revolution involving thousands of local organisations and charities which will help mums, dads and families eat well, move more and live longer. Under the banner Change4Life, the Government is aiming to galvanise support from everyone in the country from grass roots organisations to leading supermarkets and charities.

Through Change4Life, the aim is to reduce the number of people who are obese or overweight and prevent the problem escalating to a point where the experts say it is likely to cost the NHS an estimated £50 billion by 2050.

Health secretary, Alan Johnson, said: "Obesity is the biggest public health challenge the country faces. If we don't take action now we will condemn our children to reduced life expectancy.

"That's why we are aiming to create a lifestyle revolution that will help families to eat well, move more and live longer. We can't start a revolution on our own - we need everyone from grassroots community clubs to multinational companies to join us.

"Ten million people visit their corner shops every day and 36 million shop at Asda and Tesco each week - the fact that grocers and supermarkets are on board means we can really influence what goes into our shopping trolleys.

More than 12,400 grass roots organisations, charities including Cancer Research, Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation, Tesco, Asda, PepsiCo, Kelloggs, ITV, the Association of Convenience Stores and the Fitness Industry Association have signed up.
Through the Advertising Association the Government is talking to a number of companies including BSkyB, Kraft and Unilever and is talking directly with a further 50 organisations. There are no limits to the number who can participate.

Anyone who wants to get involved with Change4Life should register at http://www.nhs.uk/change4life