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London mayor urged to tackle childhood obesity
The London Assembly has called on mayor Boris Johnson to implement policies to tackle childhood obesity, as a legacy from London 2012.
At a meeting on 13 March, the assembly unanimously agreed recommendations in two recent public health reports should be implemented, including:
* Providing education and training programmes for healthcare professionals
* Increase funding for weight management services* Putting in place nutritional standards for food in hospitals
* Increasing support for new parents* Supporting nutritional standards, cooking and food growing in all schools
* Limiting fast food outlets near schools* Protecting children from junk food advertising
* Introducing a sugary drinks tax* Expanding food labelling to fast food outlets and other out of home settings
* Improving the built environment to encourage physical activity
London Assembly member, Dr Onkar Sahota, said: "The mayor has failed to address obesity as a serious health problem in London.
"Overweightness is the cause of many preventative diseases and conditions that place a particularly high burden and expense on the NHS in London."
The assembly said plans being developed by London councils to establish a London Health Board, and proposals for the Mayor to chair it, could help drive the implementation of the recommendations.