The European Commission (EU) has adopted a White Paper setting out a wide range of proposals on how the EU can tackle nutrition and obesity related health issues. This action follows the realisation that poor diets and low levels of physical activity account for six of the seven leading risk factors for ill health in Europe. It is estimated that 21,748,312 million children are overweight in the EU with this figure growing by 400,000 each year.

Areas where the Commission proposes new actions include a revision of nutrition labelling, programmes to promote the consumption of fruit and vegetables, a White Paper on Sport and a study to explore the potential of food reformulation to improved diet.

Markos Kyprianou, EU health commissioner, said: "The rise of obesity makes improving the diets and physical activity levels of Europeans a top public health priority for the EU in the years ahead. If we don't act, today's overweight children will be tomorrow's heart attack victims. What consumers eat is up to them, but they should be able to make informed choices, and have a range of healthy options to choose from. That is why the Commission is reviewing the options for nutrition labelling, and calling on industry to advertise responsibly and reduce levels of salt, fats and sugar in food products."