THE RATHER extensive report produced by the House of Commons select committee on health is the sort of thing you really need to read curled up with a cup of tea and a hob nob biscuit. Except of course, that the guilt of consuming even one biscuit would soon set in.

Obesity has become a huge political, social and health issue for this country. Figures suggest that the total cost of obesity is between £3.3 and £3.7 billion, taking into account costs such as loss of working days, treatment required from the NHS and other social factors. As these figures relate only to obesity, and not to the millions of people who are considered overweight and possibly heading towards obesity, there is no doubt that we have a problem. The health committee are right to state that obesity is not the consequence of one factor but a variety of changes in lifestyle and society that have caused the current difficulties.

Representatives from confectionary and fast food companies faced a tough grilling from the committee with a considerable amount of blame being placed at the doors of those who frequently tempt us with chocolate bars and high fat foods. They do share some of the responsibility, but the final decision rests with the individual to consume these goods. Comparisons have been made between the tobacco industry and the fast food/confectionary industry. They are simply not comparable. Smoking one cigarette is damaging to health. Consuming one bar of chocolate is not. In itself, chocolate is not a “bad” food. The problem is caused by the failure of individuals to eat a nutritious, diverse and healthy diet and the increasingly sedentary lifestyle that many of us lead.

There are measures that the industry can take to help us all overcome the battle of the bulge. Confectionary companies may argue that by producing extra large chocolate bars, they are simply meeting the demands of consumers. Given the problems we face, that is not a good enough response. We know that confectionary is a snack food. It cannot and should not replace a main meal. En extra large Mars bars, the high level of calories and the fat content is far in excess of what a normal adult can reasonably incorporate into their diet, let alone a child. There is a psychological difference for the consumer who buys one very large bar of chocolate, satisfied that they have only consumed one bar, versus eating the same quantity by purchasing two bars. Manufacturers could produce more informative labels that indicate the contribution the chocolate or cake makes to a normal diet in terms of calories and fat and how much exercise would be needed to burn it off.

Confectionary companies are in business to sell their goods. Thousands of UK jobs and the satisfaction of millions of us who enjoy our chocolate depend upon their success. Rightly, we also want them to have a social conscience. But when Cadbury’s promoted their campaign to exchange chocolate wrappers for sports equipment, they were savaged by the “healthy brigade”. We cannot expect companies to cooperate if we criticize them when they promote sensible schemes that incorporate a commercial reality with a social benefit.

Much debate continues on the benefit that a ban on advertising of fast foods and confectionary to children would have on the rise in obesity. We should control the advertising that children see, simply to ensure that they learn to consider and question the messages they receive. But I am not convinced that a complete ban on all advertising of such foods is the way forward. As these products are not in themselves ‘bad’ why should they be treated as if they are? It is up to parents, first and foremost, to influence the eating habits of their children.

We should, in the interests of our own health and that of children, try to limit the access that they have to high sugar and high fat products. The commit-tee is right to identify the influence that schools have in the life of a child. Vending machines for chocolate have no place in a school. Neither do high fat meals, such as burgers and chips, in the school canteen. Schools have a responsibility to educate children to eat and live healthily and that must include the food that it provides on its premises. It is a great shame that cookery lessons have become almost insignificant in the school timetable and I whole-heartedly agree with the commit-tee that the ability to prepare and cook healthy meals should be an essential part of the life skills taught at school.

There is no quick-fix solution to halting the rise in obesity. Nor can we expect the industry to completely shoulder the responsibility of changing attitudes. But if we are to have any success we must start with the children, to influence their eating habits and their families.