Britain's plan to fight child obesity with soft drink tax lacks muscle, critics say

Britain unveiled a plan Thursday to battle rising childobesity by taxing sodas, urging food manufacturers to cut down onsugar and getting schoolchildren to exercise more.

But health campaigners slammed the government for failing torestrict junk food advertising aimed at children.

The British population is one of the fattest in Western Europe.According to Public Health England, almost 62 per cent of adults and31 per cent of children aged 2 to 15 are overweight or obese.

• Canadian children and teens leaner than decade ago
• Taxing sugary drinks could help cut consumption, researchers say
  

The government wants manufacturers to cut the amount of sugar incereals, yogurts, candy, breads and desserts by 20 per cent by2020. The target is voluntary, but the government said it willconsider "alternative levers" if it isn't met.

Primary schools are being asked to help pupils get at least 60minutes of exercise a day 30 minutes in gym class or active play,and 30 minutes outside school.

The government has already announced a "sugar tax" on sodas tostart in 2018, with the money going to school sports and healthyschool breakfasts.

Parveen Kumar, chairwoman of the British Medical Associationboard of science, said it's "incredibly disappointing" that theplan doesn't include restrictions on marketing of unhealthy food anddrinks aimed at children.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, a longtime campaigner againstobesity, said the plan "contains a few nice ideas, but so much ismissing."

He said "too much of it is voluntary, suggestive Where arethe actions on the irresponsible advertising targeted at our
children, and the restrictions on junk food promotions?"

In May, researchers reported that fewer Canadian children tipped the scales as overweight in 2013 after years of increases.