by Gemma Collins LONDON Mayor Boris Johnson has pledged to crackdown on childhood obesity in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics with the launch of a new health initiative. A

by Gemma Collins

LONDON Mayor Boris Johnson has pledged to crackdown on childhood obesity in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics with the launch of a new health initiative.

And Tower Hamlets will be at the top of his list as it battles with the highest number of fat youngsters in the UK.

Mr Johnson launched The London Health Inequalities Strategy yesterday in which he sets out his plans to promote more physical exercise and healthy eating as well as target the most impoverished families.

He also hopes to challenge fast food companies and advertisers who he says deliberately target youngsters with unhealthy snacks.

The most recent figures from the Department of Health reveal that nearly a quarter of 10 and 11-year-olds and 15 per cent of four and five-year-olds in Tower Hamlets are obese.

But Mr Johnson says he hopes to see a "leaner, fitter London by 2012" and he added: "It is unacceptable with the world's greatest sporting event in our midst our kids are still being lured into consuming excessive sweets and junk instead of balanced meals and healthy snacks.