A recent television documentary, Half Ton Son, was harrowing and horrific watching, writes Women’s Editor Sue Austin.

Billy, a 19-year-old teenager in America, weighed an amazing 60 stones and it soon become evident that it was his obsessive mother, Barbara, who had to take much of the blame for his obesity.

“He’s what I live and breathe for,” she told the Channel 4 Bodyshock programme.

Yet her kindness was killing him and Billy was suffering horrendous health problems and had been trapped in his own home for three years.

It could only happen in America you may think.

It was what I used to think, especially after a holiday in Florida left me shocked at the amount of obese families we saw. Super-sized meals and all-you-can-eat buffet meals were a novelty for us and I piled on more than half a stone in just a fortnight. But the enormous meals were a daily diet for many.

However, frightening statistics reveal that if we in Britain do not alter our ways then by the time our own children are middle-aged nine out of 10 of them will be so overweight as to be in danger of suffering health problems, such as diabetes, cancer and heart conditions.

So what can we do to ensure that the Britain of tomorrow is not the America of today.

Shropshire scientist Susan Jebb is one of the experts that has been working with the government on its Change4Life campaign to encourage people to eat well, move more and live longer.

She is quick to point out that no individual should be blamed for being overweight and that  our lifestyle is the problem.

And she advocates sensible common sense changes: child-sized portions, far less snacking and plenty of fruit and vegetables. And as well as diet, we have to take more exercise.

My parents, and grandparents, always advocated the “everything in moderation” diet – a little bit of what you fancy does you good.

The obsessive, “yummy mummies” who totally ban fizzy drinks and trips to fast-food restaurants have also got it wrong.

Now our family is certainly not perfect. With a son who doesn’t like cooked veg but loves it raw, and a daughter who hates fruit but eats all manner of vegetables and salad, I have often been frustrated trying to ensure they have a healthy diet.

In fact, my obsession was highlighted when, at just five years old, Sophie burst into tears after I asked her what she had for school dinners.

“I couldn’t find anything green or orange to eat mummy,” she said, remembering I’’ tried to ensure she chose vegetables by telling her to pick something green or orange with her meal. 

When I pressed her I discovered she had chosen sweetcorn, but of course, that was yellow! 

Today they are healthy teenagers who will eat out at every type of restaurant and love foods from curries and chili to mussels, anchovies and big salads – as well as burgers and other fast food.

We are also blessed in Ellesmere with the Lakelands School and Sports College, and both our kids love sports and exercise, whether its rugby, cricket, canoeing or walking expeditions. They did moan when we walked up Snowdon in the summer – but they did it easily with mum and dad puffing behind.

An exercise evangelist, how I would love to see every child follow the Change4Life recommendation, that they have 60 minutes of exercise – playing with friends or in the playground, if not structured sport – every day.

Any parent who dismisses the Change4Life campaign should watch Half Ton Son. Billy is now half the weight he was when he went into hospital, a great success.

But  at a time when he should be playing basketball with his mates and dating, he still weighs 30 stone and is unable to walk more than a few hundred yards.