This is Leicestershire --
A Leicester MP has launched a national campaign aiming to get all schools to stop selling fizzy drinks.
Keith Vaz is concerned that although fizzy drinks are banned in state schools, vending machines selling them are still available in academies and free schools nationwide.
His campaign comes after the NHS warned that one-third of children are either overweight or obese by the time they leave school.
Mr Vaz, who has type 2 diabetes and is founder of the diabetes charity Silver Star, said: "It is simply not right that pupils in academies and free schools have access to sugary drinks that are a leading cause of obesity in our children.
"The Government has seen the sense of banning these products in maintained schools, so academies and free schools must follow suit."
As part of the campaign, launched on Friday at Abbey Primary School, in Leicester, schools will be awarded a silver star if they agree to stop selling such drinks.
Mr Vaz joined pupils in a game of handball to raise awareness of the importance of a good diet and exercise.
He then awarded the school a silver star for its commitment to healthy eating and exercise.
"We are experiencing an obesity epidemic in our children," said Mr Vaz.
"Schools must lead the way in educating pupils about the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise."
Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for children, young people and schools, said that the city council has no formal powers over academies and free schools.
However, she said it aimed to work in close partnership to see nutritional standards apply equally in academies and free schools as they do in local authority schools.
Diabetes nurse Elaine Duffin, who is supporting the campaign, said: "People need to be educated from a young age about the amount of sugar that goes into these fizzy drinks.
"Taking vending machines out of schools would obviously help, but doesn't stop kids from going into shops and buying sugary treats.
"If a drink tastes nice, they'll have it."
Elaine said young people need to learn to make better choices, which could delay the onset of health issues, such as diabetes, when they are older.
"A lot of people see diabetes as a 'fat-disease' and that's not right. Type 2 diabetes is in our genetic make-up and some people aren't aware they have it. The whole population needs to be educated.
"Everybody should be living a healthy lifestyle." Reported by This is 11 hours ago.
A Leicester MP has launched a national campaign aiming to get all schools to stop selling fizzy drinks.
Keith Vaz is concerned that although fizzy drinks are banned in state schools, vending machines selling them are still available in academies and free schools nationwide.
His campaign comes after the NHS warned that one-third of children are either overweight or obese by the time they leave school.
Mr Vaz, who has type 2 diabetes and is founder of the diabetes charity Silver Star, said: "It is simply not right that pupils in academies and free schools have access to sugary drinks that are a leading cause of obesity in our children.
"The Government has seen the sense of banning these products in maintained schools, so academies and free schools must follow suit."
As part of the campaign, launched on Friday at Abbey Primary School, in Leicester, schools will be awarded a silver star if they agree to stop selling such drinks.
Mr Vaz joined pupils in a game of handball to raise awareness of the importance of a good diet and exercise.
He then awarded the school a silver star for its commitment to healthy eating and exercise.
"We are experiencing an obesity epidemic in our children," said Mr Vaz.
"Schools must lead the way in educating pupils about the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise."
Councillor Vi Dempster, assistant city mayor for children, young people and schools, said that the city council has no formal powers over academies and free schools.
However, she said it aimed to work in close partnership to see nutritional standards apply equally in academies and free schools as they do in local authority schools.
Diabetes nurse Elaine Duffin, who is supporting the campaign, said: "People need to be educated from a young age about the amount of sugar that goes into these fizzy drinks.
"Taking vending machines out of schools would obviously help, but doesn't stop kids from going into shops and buying sugary treats.
"If a drink tastes nice, they'll have it."
Elaine said young people need to learn to make better choices, which could delay the onset of health issues, such as diabetes, when they are older.
"A lot of people see diabetes as a 'fat-disease' and that's not right. Type 2 diabetes is in our genetic make-up and some people aren't aware they have it. The whole population needs to be educated.
"Everybody should be living a healthy lifestyle." Reported by This is 11 hours ago.