The UK government’s target to halt the rise in childhood obesity by 2010 is unlikely to be met, public health specialists have been told.

Delegates to the Faculty of Public Health’s annual conference, who heard that the problem is getting worse, were also told that obesity was the public health equivalent of climate change.

“The problem of obesity continues to get worse for adults and children. A target was set in 2004 to halt the rise in childhood obesity. Despite its modest ambition it seems unlikely to be achieved,” said Derek Wanless, author of the 2004 report Securing Good Health for the Whole Population.

He said that although targets for …