Physical education for health: reducing the human and economic costs of childhood obesity

Almost every national government across the globe faces the challenge of escalating childhood obesity. Once an issue confined to lower socio-economic groups in urbanised, developed countries, childhood obesity is now occurring across social divides, and in less developed countries. Many national governments have recognised the issue, but there seem to be few effective strategies. It seems that governments find it difficult to commit to and implement the multi-agency action that is required to address this global epidemic.