Scientist says politicians must boost obesity fight

POLITICIANS could do more to tackle the spread of obesity, a new series of studies involving Edinburgh University has suggested.

Governments are being urged to encourage better eating habits by supporting financial incentives to enable production of healthier foods, such as subsidised fruit and vegetable production and levies on calorie-rich foods.

Local authorities are also being called upon to promote the creation of neighbourhoods that allow residents easy access to good local parks and shops, encouraging people to be more active.

The research findings are collated in a book by an Edinburgh University scientist.

Dr Jamie Pearce, of the School of GeoSciences, co-editor of the book Geographies of Obesity, said: "

Authorities could do more to change the way entire populations live, at an international, national and local level."