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Official: capital has fattest children aged 10 and 11
Anna Davis, Education Correspondent23 Sep 2009
Parents will be told to make their children exercise after it emerged that London has the fattest 10 and 11-year-olds in the country.
More than 36 per cent of children in that age group are overweight or obese — the worst results for any area — and 23 per cent of four and five-year-olds are also too heavy.
Physiotherapists will visit schools to warn parents of the dangers of allowing their children to avoid exercise.
A report by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, published today, warns that children who do not exercise are at risk of developing cancer, heart disease and strokes later in life.
It found that only three in every 100 children are doing the recommended one hour of physical activity each day. It also states that 83 per cent of parents do not know that physical inactivity in childhood can increase the risk of cancer in later life.
Liz Cavan, from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: “Physiotherapists are very concerned that as a society we are unknowingly putting children at risk of obesity and the development of life-threatening illnesses because people aren't sufficiently aware of the role and importance of physical activity in preserving good health.”
Physiotherapists from the institute and dieticians from the British Dietetic Association will visit schools to give expert advice on exercise and nutrition. The first visit will take place today at Arnhem Wharf Primary School in Tower Hamlets.
Ms Cavan said the reasons why children were getting fatter included “the growth of sedentary leisure activities, the car culture, time and financial constraints on busy working parents and our increasing fears about letting young children run around outdoors without adult supervision.” She added that there had been a rise in the number of children becoming obese during their first years of education.
“It is during these years that we form habits that we stick with for life. That is why physiotherapists are focusing efforts towards parents with children of primary school age,” she said.
“We hope that sharing our expertise in a friendly and fun environment will encourage children to increase their physical activity, choose healthier food options and shape good habits.”
Latest figures from the National Child Measurement Programme, using height, weight and waist readings, show that nearly 10 per cent of children in England are obese when they start primary school, and that more than 18 per cent are obese by the time they move on to secondary school.
In London, 36.3 per cent of children aged 10 and 11 are overweight or obese, compared with a national average of 32.6 per cent. Four and five-year-olds in the capital are also above the national average, with 22.9 per cent being overweight or obese, compared with an average of 22.6 per cent.
Reader views (16)
Have you taken the bus in the afternoon, just after school? It's awful. In a few minutes kids (fat or not)get in the bus, speak loud, eat greasy fries, smelly burgers and drink cokes, spilling everything on the floor and leaving the empty packaging on the bus!!! Do these kids have parents or are they raised in pigsties?
No, they won't pay our pensions and they will probably die before the age of 50 from a heart attack, after draining the NHS of its remaining money.
Food is not the only problem in Britain but it is a good place to start with.
I never drank Coke as a kid; "it contains caffeine, you can not have it" my mom used to tell me. Bless her! Now I don't like sodas or pop drinks, way too fizzy and sweet for me. I have simply not developed a taste for these drinks or this kind of food.
Seriously, after eating in a fast food, you are either still hungry after an hour (bread contains sugar, food is not filling) or have stomach cramps from the evil bacterias.
This trend of youth raises another problem : where do these kids get the money from? Can't parents just give them a sandwich instead of pocket money. Lazy adults! Kids need attention, dedication and boundaries. The MacDonald's up the road may be one of them.
And London is also to blame : if you buy a ticket in a bus, you get a meal deal for £1.99 in a McDonald's at the back of the ticket. Are we campaigning for a fatter London!?
Ignorance and laziness are shaping the future of our nation...it is scary!
- Vivian, London, 20/10/2009 10:49
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Its no surprise when you consider what most of these kids have to eat and drink.
Unhealthy food everywhere and nothing but sugary drinks on the menu will spell disaster in any city, London just has more of it than most, thats why its at the top.
Sort out the food and you can sort out the problem, so label the fat on foods properly and highlight the 60grams of sugar in drinks like Coke and Lucozade and it may make a difference.
- Mr S.Port, London, 23/09/2009 21:54
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Yes some of this is the fault of the parent and the councils/schools must take on an even bigger % of the blame as in schools they don't do enough exercise and regarding the councils...they are taking every available space that is safe for kids to play away from them...so the problem is an all rounder.
- Sarah, London, 23/09/2009 14:50
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Parents will blame the schools.
- Jon, London, 23/09/2009 13:23
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A Decent thinking person would take into account the prevalence of unhealthy fatty fast food outlets which overcrowd Britain's High Streets. Against these and the snacks and sweets ads, 10 and 11 year olds away from home all day, succumb as well as going along with peer pressure.
- Geoffrey, London, 23/09/2009 13:20
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Of course. Unlike in most other major European cities, children can't cycle anywhere due to the lack of cycle paths and state schools don't believe in competitive sports any more. Children should at least be encouraged to walk to school, perhaps by raising the congestion charge during the school run.
- Ivan, London, 23/09/2009 12:58
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My son got a letter over the summer to say that he is overweight - he has just started year 1. He is certainly not going to be blown over by a puff of wind but he plays football for a local team, plays tennis twice a week, does karate and swims. These tests need to take into account the full picture if they are going to be able to target their efforts and funding in the right place and help those kids that really do have a problem.
- Karen, London, 23/09/2009 12:43
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Is any body surprised!We all see every day burger bars and kebab shops etc packed with children in there lunch break and after school,any junk food shop owner will tell you"seek a spot near a school and your fortune is assured" In spite of all the education and the information out there it seems we as a nation are content to sit back and watch are most valuable asset be destroyed for monetary gain.A nation that so undervalues its youth will surely perish,and we in the uk are well on that road.Legislate against the proliferation of junk food out lets,and discipline in stilled in are youth are the answer.We must show the youth that we pro actively care about them,an added benefit of that approach may be that they stop killing each other,and realise we to are worthy of there respect.
- Kev, London-UK, 23/09/2009 12:26
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I blame the parents!
- Decency, London, UK, 23/09/2009 12:16
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Come on parents - it is your fault do some parenting! The fattest children I know are some whose parents cannot be bothered to cook and send out for kebabs, pizzas, etc. Also the media is to blame. Many parents will not let their children out becaused of the perceived dangers. When I was young we cycled miles (and not on pavements) and played football whenever we got five minutes to spare. It is also not neccessarily for life. I know one youngster who went to university a flabby 18 stone. When he realised his weight excluded him from enjoying many things he started to take diet and exercise seriously. He graduated a fit 13 stone!
- Michael D'Ferrari, London, 23/09/2009 12:11
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The ethnic backgrounds Gazza mentions will have a bearing on these figures.
- Steve, London, 23/09/2009 12:10
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It would be interesting to see these figures broken down by socio-economic and ethnic background. Could well be cultural factors at work and not just awareness of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle.
- Gazza, london, 23/09/2009 11:31
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David Cameron, are you reading? This article and Squiz are talking about the upcoming generation that you think will be retiring at 68!
- Gary, London, 23/09/2009 10:44
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the streets of London are not paved with gold but the detritus of the fast food industry. School playing fields sold off, streets not safe to walk for kids - the only ones getting any exercise are the hoodie gangstas, walking the streets and beating on other kids.
- Squiz, Islington, 23/09/2009 10:29
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It's Darwinism, leave it.
- Bob, Cheam, 23/09/2009 09:47
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We have the most fried chicken and kebab shops,not to mention McDonalds.
As far as I'm concerned it's good news.No hoodie's going to be able to chase and stab me without gasping for breath.I'll just point and laugh.
- Eddie, London, 23/09/2009 09:37
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