Telford MP, Lucy Allan is backing Cancer Research UK’s ‘Junk Free TV’ campaign which is aiming to prevent junk food being advertised before 9pm.
At a drop in event at Parliament, Lucy heard from Cancer Research UK representatives, including Telford’s CRUK ambassador Sian Hallewell, about current levels of obesity in childhood and the impact that this can have an adulthood. More than one in five children start primary school obese with this rising to one in three by the end of primary school.
Cancer Research UK are focussing on children because evidence shows that people who are obese as a child are more likely to be so as an adult. Obesity is linked to ten cancers including breast, bowel and advanced prostrate.
Lucy has pledged to question the public health minister on the work the Department of Health is doing to tackle childhood obesity.
Speaking after the event Lucy Allan MP said: “I fully support Cancer Research UK’s campaign to tackle childhood obesity."
“Obesity levels in children are too high and the pressure children apply to parents after seeing adverts on television is a contributing factor.
“Cutting obesity levels in children will ultimately having a domino effect in preventing cancer decades down the line. I am more than happy to ask the public health minister what is being done to cut childhood obesity.”