Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on using the school curriculum as a means of educating young people about the effects of unhealthy eating and obesity.

The government supports a whole school approach to educating young people about the effects of unhealthy eating and obesity.

Both the science and PE curriculum, which are compulsory subjects in primary and secondary schools, recognise the importance of pupils being taught about healthy lifestyles. Diet, nutrition and exercise are covered in the new science curriculum, including at secondary school lessons about the consequences of imbalances in the diet, including obesity. The new PE curriculum aims to support pupils to lead healthy and active lives by enabling them to understand and apply the long term health benefits of physical activity. In secondary schools, food education is now compulsory in years 7-9 for the first time and equips children with knowledge about healthy eating.

Encouraging children to lead healthy and active lives is a key aim of the new PE curriculum which will enable pupils to develop the confidence and interest to get involved in exercise, sports and activities out of schools and in later life, and understand and apply the long term health benefits of physical activity.