Expert warns of obesity timebomb

Tens of thousands of obese children are in danger of dying before their parents, a leading health expert has warned.

Dr Colin Waine, a Director of the National Obesity Forum in Britain, said recent research had shown overweight youngsters are up to 20% more likely to develop cancer as adults, than children of a healthy weight.

But he claims that the British government is still not doing enough to tackle the obesity timebomb - suggesting GPs are being told to stop prescribing weight loss medication to save money.

Dr Waine told BBC Radio Five Live: "In terms of childhood obesity, there are so many cardiovascular risk factors present in children with serious obesity that we are in danger of breeding a generation who will die before their parents.

"This is such a serious issue that children are now displaying illnesses, previously seen in adults like certain types of diabetes and heart disease."

He said research had shown a disturbing link between childhood obesity and cancer in adults.

"An obese boy is 14% more likely to develop cancer as an adult and an obese girl is 20% more likely to develop cancer as an adult. These are shocking statistics."

But he criticised the government for failing to invest adequate resources into tackling the problem - claiming ministers did not regard it as a top priority.

Dr Waine and a group of health experts recently reported their concerns to senior MPs on a Health Select Committee.

They called for obesity to be included in the National Service Framework - which would effectively force doctors to use resources to treat the problem.