There is only so much that the health and education authorities can do to counter the worrying problem of overweight children without being seen to usurp the responsibility of parents, and in Bradford they have been doing some of it for some time.

One of the measures just announced by the Department of Health, for height and weight tests on children at four years old when they start school, has been undertaken in this city for some years.

The new proposals, though, go further and want children to be tested again before they leave to move on to their upper school.

That will provide an important guide as to whether parents have taken notice of any advice that might have been given after the initial weigh-in.

With obesity in children currently a cause for national concern, it is debatable whether the authorities should have only an advisory role in this matter.

If children are discovered to be overweight, a letter will be sent to their homes advising their families of the long-term health damage they could suffer unless they lose weight and no extra help will be offered to the children.

That is all well and good provided their parents take note of the advice and act upon it. Taking care of the future health prospects of their children should be a prime responsibility for all parents.

However, not all families are up to that challenge. There could be occasions when some sort of intervention might have to be considered in the best interests of the child.