The Government has invested £5m into a new obesity policy research unit to look at the causes of childhood obesity.

The new unit at University College London will provide long term research into childhood obesity and give independent advice to policy makers and analysts.

Public Health England (PHE) has also been tasked by the Government to look at why children are eating too many calories.

Health minister, Philip Dunne, said: ‘Too many of our children are growing up obese, which can lead to serious health complications. We all have a responsibility to help people live healthier lives, but with a third of children leaving primary school obese we must take a comprehensive approach and now focus on excess calories.

‘This can only be done through strong guidance, grounded in evidence. That’s why we have funded a new £5m dedicated obesity policy research unit to understand the deeper causes of obesity.’

Figures show that one in three children are either overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school.