IT seems that everyone wants to have their say on the ‘ticking time bomb’ of child obesity.

Like all parts of the UK – and, indeed, many other developed countries – it is an issue that is all too obvious here in Renfrewshire.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, reckons banning junk food advertising on the London Underground would help.

If the idea is approved, adverts will be removed from the Tube, as well as bus shelters in the capital, but will that have much impact on kids who have already been introduced to a Happy Meal?

Kids don’t think about having a McDonald’s because they’ve seen an advert on the wall. They think of it because their parents introduced them to it, or a friend’s parents did, and their pals now say that hanging around a fast food joint is ‘cool’.

Then comes the ‘once you pop, you can’t stop’ effect, to quote the Pringles adverts.

The addictive salt and sugar rush causes kids to continue eating junk food into their teens and beyond.

And as you get older, life gets more stressful, so the convenience becomes very appealing.

What we need to do is educate kids daily about the potential consequences of eating this kind of food. This doesn’t mean making passive comments, such as ‘a moment on the lips, forever on the hips’. Who listens to that? It needs to be drilled in, with messages on packaging about how blocked up your arteries can get and what your life expectancy will be if you keep shoving burgers in your face.

There should also be a ban on placing fast food outlets near schools, so the temptation is removed. This could have a similar effect to banning smoking in public places, which has clearly reduced the number of smokers.

We also need to make sure that, as far as possible, parents are passing on the message that food does not have to be drenched in grease to taste good.

Avocados are just as cool as the 99p saver menu. Trust me kids...