Wolverhampton children among fattest in the country
Children in Wolverhampton are among the fattest in the country with 13.5 per cent of four to five-year-olds classed obese.
The city has the second highest rate of obesity in reception-age children in the country, according to NHS figures.
Of 3,160 children measured, 427 were obese. The average percentage across the country is 9.6 per cent, up from 9.3 per cent last year.
Wolverhampton is second only to the Cumbrian town of Barrow-in-Furness, where 14.4 per cent of reception pupils are grossly overweight.
For all Wolverhampton children in the last year of primary school, aged 10 and 11 – one in five were found to be obese. Wolverhampton council said it is working hard to tackle the problem.
Councillor Paul Sweet, the council’s cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “There are ways in which the authorities can help and here in Wolverhampton there is a robust action plan to tackle the problem. For instance, we offer a 10-week programme for families who are struggling with weight issues which focuses on healthy eating, cooking, portion control and the importance of physical activity.
“Work is under way to develop a primary schools’ obesity framework, which outlines a whole-school approach to addressing the problem of obesity and will include things like a review of the curriculum, food provision, staff training and engaging with parents.
“We have piloted a food labelling scheme, co-designed with pupils, school staff and caterers, in two secondary schools to promote informed choice regarding the school’s lunch and break-time food offer. We have also been working with local takeaways to encourage them to offer healthier options on their menus, and will shortly be consulting on the introduction of planning guidance which will restrict the number of new hot food takeaways in Wolverhampton, particularly those near to secondary schools.”
The national data revealed deprived areas of the country are particularly affected, with more than double the number of obese children compared to more affluent areas.
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England (PHE), said: “Children deserve a healthy future and these figures are a reminder that addressing childhood obesity requires urgent action.
“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
