The country last month launched a major £372m programme to combat obesity, with measures including partnering with the food industry to develop and market healthier food, encouraging physical activity, and education of adults and children.
A key feature of the obesity strategy is the Healthy Food Code of Practice, which includes a proposal for the adoption of one simple and consistent nutritional labelling scheme for all foods. This would bring an end to controversy over whether the traffic light scheme, guidance daily amount scheme or a combination of the two, is best.
The code will also lay down a challenge to industry (not just food manufacturers, but also restaurants and other food outlets) to support individuals and families reduce consumption of saturated fat, sugar and salt.
The Department of Health announced today that 80 per cent of the country's four to ten year olds were weighed and measured in 2006-7 - an increase of 32 per cent on the previous year.
In year one (aged four to five), 22.9 per cent of children were seen to be overweight or obese. By comparison, in year six (aged ten to 11) 31.6 per cent were seen to be overweight.
The government department said the data set has "enormous potential as a tool for tracking and analysing trends in childhood obesity."
"It is a key tool in the government's strategy to help people lose weight and live healthy lives."
Aside from children appearing to gain weight as they progress through the school system, the data also showed some other trends.
For instance, boys are more likely than girls to be obese; and London has the highest obesity rate in both groups (11.3 per cent in year one and 20.8 per cent in year six).
The south coast has the lowest obesity prevalence for year one (8.5 percent), and the south west the lowest for year six (14.9 per cent).
It also prompts OFCOM to bring forward its review of restrictions on broadcast advertisement of food adverts aimed at children, which were introduced in stages last year.
Finally, local authorities are to be given planning powers to limit the number of fast food outlets in particular areas, such as in the vicinity of schools and parks.
Insofar as it relates to the food industry, the strategy was well received.
Julian Hunt, communications director of the UK's Food and Drink Federation (FDF), said the body is pleased that the government is prepared to forge a genuine partnership with industry - something it the FDF has been calling for a long time.
"We look forward to meeting with the Secretary of State for Health very shortly to discuss his ideas further," he said.
Hunt said he was also pleased to see recognition of the efforts already made by industry in reformulating products along healthier lines. Since the industry introduced its health and wellbeing action plan in 2004, the recipes for at least £15bn worth of food have been tweaked to have less fat, sugar and salt.
A further £11.5bn worth of products have been launched in 'lower in' versions, according to the FDF.
