Efforts to reduce child obesity are failing, according to new figures showing an increasing problem amongst school-starters.
According to the figures, 9.6% of children starting school last autumn were obese.
This compared with 9.3% a year earlier.
Experts said the figures showed the government needed to “strengthen” its plans to tackle child obesity, calling for increased restrictions on advertising.
There was no change in obesity rates among children leaving primary school – but these show that one in five children are obese at this age.
Caroline Cerny, from the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “Each year the childhood obesity statistics tell the same devastating story. Obesity continues to rise and it’s the children from the most deprived backgrounds who have the odds stacked against them.
“Nearly one in ten children are obese when they first start school and children from the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to be affected.
“The Government says that tackling obesity is a priority. The soft drinks levy and the sugar reduction programme are both positive steps. But a real commitment to tackling obesity means also getting to grips with the environment in which our children grow up.”
Public Health England chief nutritionist Dr Alison Tedstone said: “There is no single solution to reverse what’s been decades in the making. We need sustained actions to tackle poor diets and excess calorie intakes. We’re working with industry to make food healthier, we’ve produced guidance for councils on planning healthier towns and we’ve delivered campaigns encouraging people to choose healthier food and lead healthier lives.
“Children who are overweight or obese are more likely to suffer from poor self-esteem, bullying and tooth decay in childhood.”
Leave a Reply