Childhood obesity will be the "single biggest issue" facing governments in years to come, ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher has said. She admitted the efforts of the ACT Government had not been as coordinated as they should have been, but hoped to rectify that with yesterday's launch of an initiative to tackle the problem.

Opposition health spokesman Brendan Smyth warned the failure of past government plans could see this latest one deteriorate into "hype and hot air" and criticised its disjointed approach.

The program will focus on children up the age of six and provide parents with the information and tools needed to help the youngsters eat healthily and exercise properly.

The latest plan will incorporate messages from ACT Sport and Recreation's Kids at Play program with advice on diets. One of the main channels through which advice will be disseminated will be the early childhood centres, with Canberra having one of the country's highest rates of children in day care.

Canberra Times, 2/4, p2

Monday, 2 April 2007