Chair of the Health Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston MP, said: "We are extremely disappointed that the government has rejected a number of our recommendations. These omissions mean that the current plan misses important opportunities to tackle childhood obesity.
“Vague statements about seeing how the current plan turns out are inadequate to the seriousness and urgency of this major public health challenge. The government must set clear goals for reducing overall levels of childhood obesity as well as goals for reducing the unacceptable and widening levels of inequality."
The government’s plan to tackle childhood obesity was published in August. In its latest report, the committee was most disappointed with the lack of action to tackle the impact of price promotions on the sales of unhealthy food and drink.
However, the committee welcomed the government’s positive response to its recommendations that the proceeds of the soft drinks industry levy should be directed towards measures to improve children's health, but called on the government to ensure that more is done to encourage low or no sugar choices.