HOPEFULLY the report of the Commons Health Select Committee on obesity will do a whole generation a life-saving favour.

By putting the subject at the centre of the news agenda it will focus attention on a serious problem and force a change in eating habits and lifestyles.

And it's no exaggeration to use the words "life saving" because it has been widely forecast that fitness levels of today's youngsters are declining to such an extent that we will see a reduction in life expectancy unless something happens.

Diets of junk food containing too much sugar and fat, precious little exercise and many hours sitting playing computer games or watching DVDs have become the hallmarks of life for far too many young people.

Now Lancashire County Council's new chairman has pledged to "strongly promote the value of health and sport" during her year of office. Apart from persuading people that the right food can be good value as well as good for you local authorities have a vital role to play in attracting youngsters to get involved in sport.

At a time when there has been a growing reliance on private sector sports clubs it is important that access to swimming pools, playing fields, squash courts and the rest is available to all and not limited to those with the ability to pay.