The UK’s top doctor has warned that British people are “digging their own graves” by over eating.

Professor Steve Field said too many of us are reckless about our health. He singled out poor diets, binge drinking and smoking as some of the root causes of our nation’s poor health. Parents are “irresponsible” for feeding their children junk food, he argued, and it is wrong for people to take offence when told they are overweight or obese, only to ask for liposuction or gastric bands years later. “It would be better if people didn't become fat in the first place,” he said.

Professor Field continued: “The truth is that too many of us neglect our health and this is leading to increasing levels of illness and early death.”

He gave a stern warning about the impact of junk food. “Unless parents exert more control over their children's diets, they are risking a lifetime of health problems and even premature death –death even before their parents, which is almost too sad to contemplate,” he stated.

Professor Field said it was especially important for expectant mothers to watch their weight, as obesity during pregnancy can have harmful consequences for the child.

Naive?

Campaigners and other doctors have criticised Field for being unrealistic. Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, called Field “naive” and said he is “living the dream” if he believes that everybody is in a position to take responsibility for their health. Fry argued that many people are not educated enough to realise how bad junk food is for them. Because they are bombarded with junk food adverts, this is what they buy. Fry said parents are “kicking against the tide,” when trying to dissuade their children from eating junk food.