Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the Faculty of Public Health, welcomed the vision, saying public health chiefs were keen to meet the challenge.

BBC: Obesity marketing campaign 'cut'

Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said: ""Hospital staff see the tragic consequences of cheap booze day after day.

BBC: Medics back cheap booze clampdown

But Alan Maryon-Davis, honorary Professor of Public Health at King's College London suggests that Italy is a more cohesive and less divided society than ours.

BBC: Why do the Italians live longer than us?

Prof Alan Maryon-Davis, a former president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, has some sympathy with the suggestion that such comments can stigmatise people.

BBC: Are the poor kids really the fat ones?

Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said the issue went "straight to the very heart of social justice and human rights".

BBC: Detention of child migrants 'risks their health'

Alan Maryon-Davis, honorary professor of public health at King's College London, said the figures for alcohol and smoking were very encouraging, but there was still a long way to go.

BBC: ONS survey: Smoking halves in 40 years

Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, a former president of the Faculty of Public Health, while believing the focus should be squarely on the factors mentioned above, acknowledges there could be something in this.

BBC: Why are we so unhealthy?