The latest NHS figures show that London has the highest rate of underweight children and second highest rate of severely obese children in the country. Can you provide an update on how your Food Strategy and London’s Child Obesity Taskforce is working to address this issue?

Child obesity rates remain a serious concern for London having been exacerbated by the pandemic. Although the formal term of London’s Child Obesity Taskforce ends this year, the group will transition into an advisory group on child healthy weight, providing expert advice to support the latest Health Inequalities Strategy implementation plan and the London recovery programme.

London is a diverse city, prevalence of both overweight and underweight children reflects a diverse range of needs. The ‘Healthy Place, Healthy Weight’ recovery mission is taking a whole systems approach to create healthy environments that support the health and weight of all children and families. The mission will support a number of initiatives included in the London Food Strategy, including the Healthier Catering Commitment and infant feeding. Work to support child health continues through the Healthy Early years and Healthy schools’ programmes and initiatives such as water only schools and the expansion of School Superzones.