HEALTHY snacks such as fruit are the preferred choice for 15-year-old Sophie Burton.

The Wootton Bassett School pupil, who says she prefers fruit to sweets and crisps, is in exactly the age group the Government wants to target in its drive to establish the healthy eating habits in the young.

She said: "I don't really have a sweet tooth anyway, so I do tend to eat fruit and that sort of thing instead of sweets, although I do have a soft spot for chocolate from time to time.

"I think I am aware of what foods are good for you and our school canteen stocks a range of healthy eating options so that we have the choice."

Concerns over early eating habits and how they affect health in later life has led to the Government stressing healthy eating as a key tactic in beating the rise in coronary heart disease.

And some schools are taking a particularly vigorous approach in encouraging children to swap crisps and sweets for fruit.

Pinehurst Junior School has asked all pupils to eat fruit during break times instead of junk food, a decision that has not proved popular with some parents who say the authorities are going too far.

But dieticians have their work cut out for them.

It is a worrying statistic that the average Briton eats more than one pound of sugar a week, a higher amount than ever before.

A high intake of sugar can contribute to weight gain and medical conditions such as diabetes.

Surprisingly large amounts of sugar are 'hidden' in processed foods, even those billed as low fat and healthy ranges.

Government figures show that people living in Wiltshire have the highest obesity rates in the South West, with the number of clinically obese people trebling over the last 20 years.

In the county, the percentage of overweight or obese is 39.7 compared with a national figure of 37.6 per cent.

And although there are no official figures for Swindon, the town's dieticians believe that the percentage of overweight people in the town is even higher.

Being overweight carries serious health implications ranging from increased risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer, joint problems and diabetes.