South West kids have lowest prevalence of obesity

1:02pm Sunday 24th February 2008

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Latest figures show that the South West has the lowest prevalence of obesity for 10 to 11 year olds at 14.9 per cent.

13.9 per cent of 10 and 11 year olds are overweight and 14.9% are obese according to new figures published by the Department of Health.

This is compared to 14.2 per cent and 17.5 percent nationally, meaning that the South West region has the lowest prevalence of obesity for this age group.

In addition, figures show that 13.5 per cent of children aged 4-5 in the South West are overweight and 9 per cent are obese compared to 13 per cent and 9.9 per cent nationally.

These figures come as Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo announced today that 83 per cent of children in their first year of school in the South West have been weighed and measured as part of a scheme to fight obesity.

The National Child Measurement Programme, established in 2005, checks childrenís height and weight to enable local health services to identify children who are, or who are in danger of becoming obese. It is a key tool in the Governmentís strategy to help people lose weight and live healthy lives.

The national figures, recorded in 2006/07, show that: in year one (age four to five) one in four children were overweight or obese; in year six (age ten to 11) one in three children were overweight; in both age groups, boys are more likely than girls to be obese; London has the highest obesity prevalence for both age groups, 11.3 per cent in year one and 20.8 per cent in year six; the south east coast area has the lowest obesity prevalence for year one, 8.5 per cent; and the south west area has the lowest prevalence for year six ,14.9 per cent.

The recently published obesity strategy backed by £372 million Government funding will help everyone to lead healthier lives. There is a particular focus on children with an aim to reduce the proportion of those who are overweight and obese back to 2000 levels by 2020.

Progress has already been made with 86 per cent of schoolchildren now doing at least two hours of sport per week. Food and drink advertising to children has been restricted.

Dr Gabriel Scally, Regional Director of Public Health at NHS South West said: "Obesity in children is becoming a serious problem as overweight children often continue to be overweight as adults.

"There are a number of initiatives and clinics running across the South West to help tackle the growing problem of obesity in children."