In a new report The World Health Organization says that childhood obesity has become an ' exploding nightmare ’ . WHO has joined those calling for a sugar tax on soft drinks alongside a crackdown on the marketing of junk food . It says there is strong evidence a sugar tax can work alongside other measures , such as reducing portion sizes and introducing clearer food labels . Being overweight or obese as an adult increases the risk of 10 different cancers and so it is imperative that healthy patterns are established from childhood. The report says that countries where rates are very high – including the US – should go further by banning all junk food . The report ’s authors also say that childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in the developing world .
In a new report The World Health Organization says that childhood obesity has become an ' exploding nightmare ’ . WHO has joined those calling for a sugar tax on soft drinks alongside a crackdown on the marketing of junk food . It says there is strong evidence a sugar tax can work alongside other measures , such as reducing portion sizes and introducing clearer food labels . The report says that countries where rates are very high – including the US – should go further by banning all junk food . The report ’s authors also say that childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in the developing world .