Four in 10 Year 6 pupils in Newham are overweight or obese
Obesity levels among Year 6 pupils in the past five years. Picture: Radar - Credit: Radar
Newham has one of the highest levels of obesity among Year 6 pupils in England, with more than four in 10 an unhealthy weight.
Obesity levels among Year 6 pupils in the past five years. Picture: Radar - Credit: Radar
Public health groups urged the Government to take further action to prevent youngsters consuming junk food and sugary drinks, as the level of severe obesity hit a record high across England.
NHS Digital figures show more than one in four children that finished primary school in Newham in 2017-18 were obese, and of which 6.5 per cent were severely obese.
Additionally, 16pc of Year 6 children were overweight.
That means 44pc of Newham’s youngsters are unhealthily overweight when they finish primary school.
Across England, 4.2pc of 10 and 11-year-olds are severely obese, a record high.
Caroline Cerny, of the Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of leading health charities, medical royal colleges and campaign groups, said “we can do something about this”.
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She explained: “The ever increasing number of children living with obesity is a clear reflection of the unhealthy wider environment that pushes us towards sugary and fatty food and drinks.”
Each year officials measure the height and weight of more than one million children, in Reception and Year 6, to assess childhood obesity.
Obesity can lead to heart problems and type 2 diabetes later in life, as well as psychological issues such as low self-esteem and depression.
The data shows that children often develop weight problems while at primary school.
In 2017-18, just 13% of Newham’s children were obese in Reception.
Across England one in five pupils in Year 6 was obese. Children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds were more than twice as likely to be obese than those from the wealthiest areas.
Public health minister Steve Brine said: “Obesity is a problem that has been decades in the making – one that will take significant effort across government, schools, families and wider society to address.
“We cannot expect to see a reversal in trends overnight – but we have been clear that we are willing to do whatever it takes to keep children healthy and well in this country.”
