It may be necessary to introduce a sugar tax, the chief medical officer for England has suggested.

Dame Sally Davies told a committee of MPs that unless the government is strong with food and drink manufacturers, it is unlikely they will resize their products.

She said she believes "the research will find sugar is addictive" and that "we may need to introduce a sugar tax".

The food industry says it has been working to reduce sugar in products.

Speaking to the Health Select Committee Dame Sally said: "We have normalised being overweight. I do fear this generation of children will live less than my parents' generation."

Earlier this year doctors called for a soft drinks tax to reduce sugar intake.

The Department of Health already has a "responsibility deal" - a series of voluntary pledges by industry designed to tackle issues such as obesity.

Much of the focus is on reducing salt and calorie count rather than sugar per se.

Ministers are also pushing ahead with front of pack labelling, which includes information about sugar. Again, this is voluntary.