Doctors in the UK have launched an anti-obesity campaign to battle Britain's junk food problem as they attack the Coalition Government's obesity strategy.

The Academy of Royal Medical Colleges (AoMRC) yesterday launched a campaign, which will be headed by Professor Terence Stephenson, vice-chairman of the AoMRC and president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

AoMRC, the body that represents 200,000 doctors across the UK, is commencing a three-month evidence-gathering inquiry aimed to find strategies for preventing or reducing obesity. The inquiry will look at the impact of advertising, food labelling and sponsorship.

The inquiry will also scrutinize clinical interventions, financial measures such as taxation and minimum pricing and education. The campaign that targets the London 2012 Olympics demand a ban at McDonalds advertising, saying these ads send out a wrong message.

“Our starting point is the collective desire to ensure the healthcare profession is doing all it can to detect, treat, manage - and ultimately prevent - obesity. It is unprecedented that the medical royal colleges and faculties have come together on such a high-profile public health issue”, said Professor Terence Stephenson.

Responding to the AoMRC campaign, the Department of Health commented, "The call from the Academy of Royal Colleges follows our obesity Call to Action last year, from which we are already seeing results. The Academy clearly shares our view that the need for action is urgent. Our Call to Action is mobilising a response and we welcome the medical profession's commitment."