Most consumers think parents should be responsible for improving their children's diets, according to the results of a poll carried out on behalf of the Food Standards Agency.88 per cent of respondents thought parents had most responsibility; 43 per cent of consumers thought that schools were second most responsible; with food manufacturers third - 30 per cent; and broadcasters fourth 26 per cent.

Forum Response: Food Standards Agency

Sir John Krebs, chair of the Food Standards Agency, said: "The rising level of obesity in children is worrying to us all, not least to the parents of those children. Doing nothing is not an option but reversing the trend is a huge task and one in which we all have a role to play.

"The British public recognise the role that parents must play in improving the diets and health of their children. But it is also clear from our poll that they can't do it on their own - they need support from schools, industry, broadcasters and government if they are to make a difference."

Forum Response: British Retail Consortium

Richard Ali, BRC director of food policy, said: "Food retailers have long been committed to playing their part in providing a balanced and varied diet for their customers and the BRC's members are at the forefront of providing accurate and clear labelling on food products.

"Food retailers seek to meet their customers' needs and go well beyond the legal requirements set by the European Commission - to provide nutrition information on pre-packed foods only where a claim is made.

"By communicating nutritional information in a clear and helpful way we are helping consumers to make informed decisions about the food they choose for themselves and their families.

"The challenge for policy makers is to provide the framework within which consumers can be encouraged and supported to choose healthier diets as part of healthier lifestyles. We are convinced that government has the major role to play in achieving this cultural shift through developing educational campaigns that encourage consumers to appreciate the components of a healthy diet by providing clear, simple, consistent and scientifically credible messages.

"Along with health professionals we do caution against the artificial segregation of foods as 'good' or 'bad.' Such a move could be counterproductive, leading to message dilution or even dietary imbalance."

Forum Response: Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust

Jenny Hirst, co-chairman of IDDT, told ePolitix.com: "We agree that parents have a large responsibility in improving the diets and health of their children.

"The chair of the Food Standards Agency makes the point that parents cannot do this on their own and need the support of schools, industry and government.

"The present situation is, in fact, the opposite of this and one of the problems facing parents is that their children are receiving very mixed messages.

"No matter how hard parents may try to encourage their children to eat a healthy diet, all too often, this is undermined within minutes of leaving home by the presence of vending machines in schools selling sugary drinks and fatty foods.

"We believe that it is time for action and sugary and fatty foods should be removed immediately from school vending machines and replaced with healthy foods.

"While the government is carrying out pilot schemes to provide evidence to inform their decisions to improve children's diets, the evidence of the harmful effects of sugary and fatty foods is well documented and this is an action that could, and should, be taken immediately."

Forum Response: National Consumer Council

Sue Dibb, senior policy officer for the National Consumer Council, told ePolitix.com: "The responsibility for defusing the obesity timebomb rests with us all, not just parents. Government, food companies, advertisers, schools, health professionals, consumer and other interest groups all have a role to play.

"We must move beyond the 'blame game' and start giving parents real practical help. Much children's food is packed with high levels of salt, sugar and fat. More than 95 per cent of food advertising on children's TV is for foods that do little to encourage healthier diets.

"Supermarket checkouts are stacked with sweets and other snacks. It's little wonder that parents often struggle against pester power. We need to find ways of making healthier choices, easier choices for everyone.

"NCC shares the Food Standards Agency's view that 'doing nothing is not an option'. Starting with the young is essential. Changing our current food culture and eating habits will take a coherent strategy, tough decisions and leadership.

"NCC would like to see supermarkets remove unhealthy snacks from their checkouts, manufacturers reduce the amount of 'hidden' fats, sugars and salt in their products - particularly those designed for kids. And the creative power of advertising must be used to promote healthier messages that are just as much fun and just as exciting and 'cool' as ads for 'junk' food."

Forum Response: Health Development Agency

Paul Streets OBE, chief executive of the Health Development Agency, told ePolitix.com: "HDA evidence shows parents have an important role in helping tackle childhood obesity, so it's time for a review of the controls that should support parents in giving children a healthy diet.

"The food and advertising industry has been allowed to vigorously promote its products to children and there is evidence that this has changed the way they eat. If we want to ensure that children have the right to a healthy balanced diet then we need to create a level playing field.

"This includes deciding whether we want schools to be junk food free, and whether product link-ups and sponsorship in schools from food companies should be restricted.

"The National Healthy School Standard run by the HDA supports schools to implement some of these policies already."

Forum Response: World Cancer Research Fund

Andrew Trehearne, World Cancer Research Fund's Head of Education, told ePolitix.com: "Obesity is one of the fastest growing and underestimated epidemics in the UK, but it is increasing even more rapidly among younger people, who face the greatest risks to health over a lifetime."

"Experts believe that promotional practises in the UK such as 'supersizing' and 'value marketing' - what we call Portion Distortion - has confused people about reasonable portion sizes and is adding to the problem. As a result people consume more and more unnecessary calories a day.

"Offering consumers ever-larger portion sizes and 'king size' deals may well be contributing to an unhealthy nutritional environment which promotes overweight and obesity. Studies have proven that when people are served more food, they eat more food.

"Everyone must be involved in helping to change attitudes to what we eat and how we eat it."