ALL children will be ordered to have an annual “fat test” to prevent them becoming so obese that they die before their parents, under proposals being considered by ministers.

The plan follows a scathing report on the obesity epidemic in Britain by the Commons Select Committee on Health, which gives warning of a doomsday scenario where thousands lose limbs and sight from fat-related illnesses.

It cites the recent case of a three-year-old child whose death was blamed partly on extreme obesity. Doctors described the incident as one of several cases of children “choking on their own fat”.

Leading supermarkets signalled last night that they would accept the report’s key recommendations. Tesco, Britain’s largest chain, is to introduce a “traffic-light” labelling scheme to highlight fatty foods.

Ministerial sources have said that they will seriously consider making a “fat test” government policy when they draw up draft legislation on public health this year.

The select committee accuses the Government of policy failures and political timidity with the result that the country has the fastest growth in obesity in Europe.

David Hinchliffe, the Labour chairman of the committee, said: “The consequences of the epidemic of obesity are likely to have a profound impact over the next century.

“Obesity will soon supersede tobacco as the greatest cause of premature death in this country. It is staggering to realise that, on present trends, half of all children in England in 2020 will be obese.”

The report, based on evidence from more than 60 experts during a year-long inquiry, recommends health labels for supermarket foods, the voluntary withdrawal of TV advertising of junk food and the annual weighing of children.

Obesity is now five times the level of 25 years ago, with three quarters of adults now overweight or obese and costing the nation £7.4 billion a year. England has the fastest- increasing weight problem in Europe, with childhood obes-ity tripling in just 20 years.

The report recommends the introduction of an annual “fat test” for all schoolchildren, with their body mass index (BMI) rating sent to parents.

The MPs said it was “lamentable” that most children failed to meet the target of two hours of physical activity a week. This should be increased to three hours, they added.

Detailing the “lack of joined-up solutions” across Government, industry and society, the report called for a Cabinet-level public health committee to oversee action on obesity across departments. They also called for the introduction of a health education campaign, like those to tackle smoking, to be introduced to make sure that the public know the risks they face if they are overweight or obese.

Mr Hinchliffe called the inquiry “a wake-up call for Government to show that the causes of ill-health need to be tackled by many departments”. He added: “It is unacceptable that sports and education ministers have endorsed initiatives to supply schools with sporting equipment or books but which required children to buy Cadbury’s chocolate or Walker’s crisps.”

The Government and the food industry last night denied that they were failing to take the nation’s weight problem seriously. Announcing a month’s extension of consultations for the public health White Paper, John Reid, the Health Secretary, said that all the recommendations would be considered.

“We share the committee’s concern about the seriousness of the health impact of obesity,” he said. “We recognise that these issues are not just a matter for Government. They involve individuals and the choices they make, as well as the food and leisure industry.”

The Consumers’ Association was sceptical about the voluntary withdrawal of junk-food adverts for children.

The British Retail Consortium said that it was disappointed by the recommendation of a traffic-light labelling system. Kevin Hawkins, its director-general, said: “The ‘traffic-light’ approach leads to artificial segregation of foods by attacking staples of our diet such as meat and dairy products. Such wrong thinking has no scientific underpinning and could lead to serious unforeseen consequences for individuals such as a dangerous fall in their iron or calcium intake. It could also lead to an increase in eating disorders.”

But the National Consumer Council said: “The food industry will always come up with reasons why this won’t work but it simply needs to pass the common-sense test and make it easier for people to make healthier choices.”

Martin Paterson, deputy director-general of the Food and Drink Federation, said: “The entire food and drink chain from farmers to caterers is clear that our industry must be a part of the solution.”

Doctors leaders last night backed the call for greater cross-departmental thinking by the Government.

Vivienne Nathanson, head of science at the British Medical Association, said: “The creation of a Cabinet public health committee, legislation for clearer food labelling and measures to prevent unhealthy food being targeted at children would all be extremely positive steps.

“Obesity is not just the responsibility of individuals or just the Department of Health, but of society as a whole.”

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