Fears for obese children
Introduction
Are you worried about your child's weight? New statistics reveal that almost ten percent of children starting school are obese.....
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Watch your child's weight
Almost one in every ten children who starts primary school in Britain is obese. New figures from the Department of Health show that obesity among these children – aged four to five – is just under ten percent, with large variations across the country.
The new statistics are part of a breakdown of the nation’s health.
They show that there is a vast “health gap” between rich and poor, with children in inner cities and less affluent areas having particular problems. For example, sixteen percent of children in Hackney (East London) were obese, compared to only five percent of those in Teesdale in County Durham.
It’s the first time figures have been broken down so specifically, by each local council or borough, and campaigners are arguing that action needs to be taken before children start school.
Doctors have long been concerned at the creep towards obesity in the UK. Obese children are more at danger of developing diabetes, as well as dying early from conditions such as cancer and heart disease. There are fears that the next generation will be the first to die before their parents.
Dawn Primarolo, the Public Health Minister, said: "Inequalities around the country are stark, but the NHS and Local Authorities can use these profiles to target local health hotspots with effective measures to make a real difference. We recently renewed our commitment to tackling these issues with the Health Inequalities: Progress and Next Steps report. I am confident that we can confront the issues facing communities head on and make health inequalities everyone's business."
Supernanny Team
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