NEW figures show a “disappointing” rise in child obesity in Bournemouth for pupils in their first and last years at primary school.
The town’s year six children were weighed and measured for the National Child Measurement Programme and a total of 18.2 percent were classed as obese, up three percent in a year.
And the number of obese children in reception year in Bournemouth also went up, by 0.2 percent from eight percent.
The newly released figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre, which is a a government organisation, relate to year six and reception year pupils for the year 2012 to 2013.
The schoolchildren were weighed and measured if their parents consented.
The National Child Measurement Programme has now been completed for seven years running, meaning the children who just left primary school were also those first weighed and measured.
Dr David Phillips, director of Public Health Dorset, said: “This year the data shows some positive trends, such as the percentage of overweight children in both age groups, in England and locally, which have decreased since last year; but also some disappointing trends, such as the percentage of obese children in both age groups, which has gone up in Bournemouth.
“It is clear we have much more to do both nationally and locally as we would all wish to see these figures fall.
“Most of us would recognise the main factors that contribute to obesity, such as diet and lack of exercise, and also recognise that this is a complicated problem with no easy solutions.
“There is a role for all of us in responding to this, and in particular all parents in encouraging their children to be active for 60 minutes each day and in encouraging their children to eat a balanced healthy diet.
“Free school meals, which are being introduced next year, will help and parents wishing more advice might like to visit the national Change4Life programme at change4life.org”
OVERWEIGHT OBESE
2011-12 2012-13 2011-12 2012-13
Bournemouth reception age 14.8% 13.1% 8% 8.2%
Bournemouth year-six age 14.7% 13.9% 15.2% 18.2%
Poole reception age 13.3% 14.6% 9.7% 8.6%
Poole year-six age 14% 14.7% 15.1% 13.9%
Christchurch reception age 12.5% 14.6% 8.2% 9.4%
Christchurch year-six age 12.5% 13% 12.3% 10.5%
East Dorset reception 11.1% 13.3% 6.2% 6.2%
East Dorset year-six 14.5% 13% 16.1% 15.6%
Purbeck reception age 11.8% 10.9% 7.7% 6.6%
Purbeck year-six 12.4% 15.3% 13.5% 14.1%
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel