OPINION: It's never too early to tackle obesity

GLASGOW has a problem with obesity and the figures for young children show it is a situation that shows no signs of improving.

The warnings have been issued before that obesity is storing up problems for later in life with a greater chance of developing dangerous conditions.

Better monitoring of pre-school children would be welcome to spot the signs before it becomes a problem.

Even better would be for people to understand the benefits of a healthier lifestyle before they have children and develop the habits before they become parents.

There is advice available which is being given to new parents, but still the figures for childhood obesity persist at dangerous levels.

There is only so much health authorities can do to combat obesity and the responsibility and the power to change ultimately lies with individuals and the parents of children.

Glasgow is making significant progress in improving the health of a city once synonymous with the three big killers of heart disease, cancer and strokes, and rates are being reduced in all three.

While we are reducing smoking and making other lifestyle changes to improve health, the good work is in danger of being undone by the threat of an obesity epidemic among future generations.