THE Co-op Group is to remove sweets with marketing and packaging aimed at children from its store checkouts. It will also provide a range of healthier snacks.

The assurance has been given to the West Midlands representative on the Co-op Members’ Council, David Hallam, a former director of the International Diabetes Federation and Member of the European Parliament.

“This is good news for parents who dread having their children pining and making a scene for unhealthy sweets at checkouts,” said Mr Hallam.

“I just hope every other convenience chain follows suit. Too many sweets represent a massive threat to children’s health. It’s not just about teeth but excessive sugar represents a threat to long term health with obesity, heart problems and diabetes in later life,” he added.

The Co-op Group told Mr Hallam that “following a review of the convenience market and discussions with store colleagues and customers, we have decided to offer a wider range of snacking choices at the checkout in our convenience stores in line with customer expectations.

“We are committed to ensuring that the range of products offered at this location will not include any confectionery directly aimed at children via its packaging or marketing.

“We will also ensure that there will always be a choice of healthier options, including fresh fruit and 100 per cent fruit bars.

“We will continue to develop the range of products on offer and will be guided by our customers on this issue.”

Mr Hallam said that he would continue to monitor the situation carefully and would be interested to hear whether parents thought the ban at checkouts was helpful.

• According to the NHS, one in four adults and one in five children aged 10-11 years in the UK are obese – very overweight with a lot of body fat.

• Obesity is usually measure by calculating Body Mass Index. An 18.5 to 24.9 BMI is a healthy weight; a 25 to 29.9BMI is overweight; 30 to 39.9 is obese and 40 or above is severely obese. Another way to measure excess weight is by waist circumference. Men with a waist of 37 inches or more and women with a waist of 31.5 or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.

• Obesity can lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health problems such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, breast and bowel cancer, strokes and psychological issues like depression.

• People who are obese tend to suffer from breathlessness; increased sweating; snoring; difficulty in exercising; tiredness; joint and back pain; low self-esteem and feelings of isolation.

• Obesity is generally caused by consuming more calories – particularly those in fatty and sugary foods – than you burn off through physical activity. The excess energy is stored by the body as fat.

• Obesity is an increasingly common problem because for many people modern living involves eating excessive amounts of cheap, high-calorie food and spending a lot of time sitting down at desks, on sofas or in cars.