| British children choking on their own fat Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1508&ncid=751&e=6&u=/afp/20040526/hl_afp/britain_health_obesityhttp://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1508&ncid=751&e=6&u=/afp/20040526/hl_afp/britain_health_obesity
Health - AFP Children in Britain 'choking on their own fat', says obesity report Wed May 26, 7:35 PM ET Add Health - AFP to My Yahoo!
LONDON (AFP) - The death of a three-year-old girl from heart failure brought on by her excess weight was highlighted in a damning report by a British parliamentary committee examining a feared obesity epidemic. One expert quoted in the report by the House of Commons Health Committee told of four children who required ventilatory assistance at home for a respiratory condition because of their obese condition.
The children were "choking on their own fat", said Doctor Sheila McKenzie, a specialist consultant at the Royal London Hospital.
The report slammed the British government, the National Health Service, food manufacturers and advertisers for not doing enough to improve the nation's health and raise awareness of the risks of being overweight or obese.
It warned that obese children could become the first generation to die before their parents.
The committee was due to hold a press conference later Thursday to talk about the findings of their year-long inquiry.
Among its recommendations were a voluntary withdrawal of television advertising of junk food to children, and a clamp-down on high-profile campaigns using sports stars and celebrities to promote crisps and chocolate.
Obesity in Britain has grown by almost 400 percent in 25 years, with three-quarters of adults now overweight or obese, the report said.
England has the fastest growing obesity problem in Europe, with childhood obesity tripling in 20 years.
The report calculated that being overweight or obese costs the nation 7.4 billion pounds (11.1 billion euros, 13.4 billion dollars) a year.
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