¡¡¡¡LONDON, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The epidemic of child obesity causedby poor nutrition and lack of exercise is creating a looming health crisis in Britain, with average life expectancy expected todrop for the first time in more than a century, The Observer reported Sunday.

¡¡¡¡The British government's most senior adviser on food and healthhas warned for the first time that children growing up today in the country will have shorter lives than their parents with the prospect of rising death rates as a result of obesity-related illnesses.

¡¡¡¡In response to the warning, the government is calling an emergency "salt summit" Tuesday to demand action from companies such as Heinz, McDonald's and Birds Eye.

¡¡¡¡John Krebs, the chairman of the Food Standards Agency describedobesity as a "ticking timebomb" and one of the most serious issuesfacing the nation. "If nothing is done, for the first time in 100 years, life expectancy will actually go down," Krebs was quoted assaying.

¡¡¡¡Life expectancy in Britain has doubled in the past 140 years, with better health care and working conditions. Men can now expectto live to an average age of 75.3, and women to just over 80.

¡¡¡¡The agency will publish a report this weekend, setting out policy options which could help people, particularly children, lead a healthier life.

¡¡¡¡The agency says the government should consider reducing fat, salt and sugar in children's food, restricting the amount of advertising of sweets, crisps and snack foods during children's TVprograms and banning food adverts aimed at pre-school children.

¡¡¡¡It also suggests putting compulsory health warnings on some foods, barring from schools vending machines selling only sugary drinks or sweets, and blocking celebrity endorsement of sweets andpromotions which link buying sweets and crisps to "gifts" of school equipment. Enditem