UK primary school kids in obesity crisis

(PABNews): Shocking figures revealed by the NHS show obesity amongst primary school children is at an alarming level in the UK. One in three children leaving primary school is obese or overweight by the time they leave, according to data released by the National Child Measurement Programme.  The study looked at more than one million school pupils and showed numbers to have gone up compared to last year. The 2010-11 figure stands at 19% of 10-11 year olds being classed as obese – a rise of 0.3% over the 18.7% figure last year.  Statistics reveal British children are definitely getting fatter as research conducted in 2006-07 revealed the figure to be 17.5%.

On the positive side the study by the NCMP showed the number of reception class obese children, between 4 and 5 years old had fallen.  In 2009-10 the figure was at 9.8%, currently between last year and this year the figure is at 9.4%.  The report has led many people to question the success of the much televised healthy school dinner campaigns, led by Jamie Oliver.

Boys were shown to be fatter according to the report; 34.9% of boys between ten and eleven were either obese or overweight in comparison to 31.8% of girls.  Furthermore, pupils from deprived and less privileged areas were shown to be unhealthier and more overweight.  London had the highest obesity figures, with urban areas and cities being more prevalent compared to rural areas.

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