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New obesity figures make for grim reading26 June 2008
Dr Colin Waine, Chair of the National Obesity Forum
Two in 20 reception-age children in England are obese, according to new Health Profiles published recently by the Department of Health and the Association of Public Health Observatories. The results also show a further five in 20 children aged four to five are either overweight or obese. The combined figure rises to more than seven in 20 children by the time they are 10 and 11 years old. London, the North East and the West Midlands had the worst figures. Six of the 10 worst ranking counties in the survey were in London. The South West, Central and East of England fared only slightly better, with between one and two in 20 children classed as obese. The lowest levels of obesity were found in Brighton and Hove, Wokingham and Richmond on Thames. "The figures make for grim reading," Dr Colin Waine, Chair of the National Obesity Forum told the Bupa health information team. "They are an indication of what potentially lies ahead unless we reverse current trends. We are looking at a horrendous future with an epidemic of type 2 diabetes following the obesity epidemic." Dr Waine also suggested that more needs to be done to promote maternal health, monitor children's health from birth and to "redesign communities around people, not cars". "The food industry should be pressured to produce a nutritious diet low in saturated fat and salt. We need to work with young couples to encourage healthy nutrition during pregnancy, encourage and support breastfeeding and encourage them to wean their babies onto healthy foods," Dr Waine added. Health Profiles use key indicators such as life expectancy, healthy eating, binge drinking and smoking to build a picture of the health of people in England. The children's health results are based on 2006/07 data from The National Child Measurement Programme which monitors children throughout the school year. To improve children's health, long-term changes to eating habits and attitudes to exercise have to be made. Children should be encouraged to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and, according to Department of Health guidelines, do at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Related informationBack to the latest health news
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We are looking at a horrendous future with an epidemic of type 2 diabetes 
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