Quarter of city's kids are too fat
ONE in four children aged four to five and almost a third of 10- to 11-year-olds in Plymouth are obese or overweight, new figures have revealed.
The Government data also shows an overall rise in the city's childhood obesity rates since last year.
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Quarter-of-city's-kids-are-too-fat
Plymouth health experts said the increase was down to improved data-gathering, and highlighted a host of specialist services in place to help overweight children and adults.
The data, released yesterday, shows that of 2,455 reception-year city children measured and weighed in 2007-08, 15.2 per cent were overweight and 10.1 per cent were obese.
This shows a rise from 2006-07's figures, showing 13.9 per cent were overweight and 8.6 per cent obese.
Of 2,484 Year 6 children, aged 10 to 11, measured this year, 13 per cent were overweight and 17.1 were obese.
Last year, the rates were 14.3 per cent overweight and 15.4 per cent obese.
Rob Nelder, head of public health intelligence at NHS Plymouth, welcomed the figures which he said showed Plymouth was close to the regional and national averages.
"This is a significant achievement, as Plymouth often tends to appear less healthy than both the South West region and England on a number of health indicators", he said.
"Although levels of overweight and obesity appear to have increased from 2006-07 to 2007-08 this is due to the fact that more Plymouth children than ever are now included in the National Child Measurement Programme – approximately 90 per cent in 2007-08 – and as such we are at last close to seeing the true picture of healthy weight in the city.
"The city's schools should be congratulated for the way in which they have embraced the NCMP and for the excellent health-promoting work they continue to do."
He said further local analysis of the NCMP data would take place to show which areas and age groups in the city should be prioritised.
Across the South West, 13.9 percent of reception-year children were overweight and 8.9 per cent were obese.
Of the region's Year 6 children, 14 per cent were overweight and 16 per cent obese.
Nationally, 13 per cent of reception-year children were overweight and 9.6 per cent obese.
Of the country's Year 6 children, 14.3 per cent were overweight and 18.3 per cent obese.
Sarah Hinds, an NHS Plymouth nurse specialist in weight management, said: "Tackling increasing obesity levels in Plymouth is a priority for us and together with local voluntary and statutory agencies we offer a range of initiatives to encourage and support adults and children to live healthier lifestyles."
These included the Self-Help Independence Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) programme for teenagers, the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it! (MEND) scheme for seven- to 11-year- olds, and a pre-school weight management programme for children aged one to six years and their families, called Healthy Weight 4Life.
NHS Plymouth also ran a paediatrician-led weight management clinic which took referrals from GPs, health visitors, school nurses, practice nurses and dieticians, she said.
Tan Fry of the National Obesity Forum on the "fat map" of the UK which shows high levels of obesity in Plymouth for the first time.
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by NonPlymuff, NonJanner
Monday, December 15 2008, 8:12PM
“Ban public transport for fat people. Let them walk everywhere or at least drop them off a few stops before their destination. Fat people lack class and their lack of discernment encourages their bad eating and discourages any prospect that they may take up more calorie busting activities. Let them get fat, die early and get out of the gene pool.”
by kelly, plymouth
Monday, December 15 2008, 5:36PM
“Eric in Stoke. It seems to me that you have a problem with the larger people in society. Is it because somebody large bullied you at school or more recent perhaps but i am not saying that there is not risk to being large. i dont think people should be judged by the way they look, plain and simply people like you who bully others on appearence isn't acceptable in todays modern sense and soon everybody will catch on to the fact that its whats inside that counts not your recent chocolate intake. Are you the person who makes up rules in stone as to whats right and wrong? Because if your not then you certainly have no right to say if somebodys fat or not.”
by uncle monty, crow crag
Monday, December 15 2008, 5:08PM
“These figures must be wrong. As we know, whatever the problem in Plymouth, its only those on benefits who are at fault. Yet according to this report their must be at least 10% of Plymouths population who are not on benefits who have fat kids. (only 15% of plym population on benefits). I suspect its all those Tarquins and Tabathas who have to be driven 50 yards to their private schools by mummy in the 4x4s.”
by eric, stoke
Monday, December 15 2008, 4:37PM
“Kelly ... part of the problem is people with attitude like yours who are to niave to actually say what the problem is.... because of your pc views on who is fat or not ... if your fat you are fat ... very simple . Your way is of one that people must keep quiet ..... no chance dear .”
by kelly, plymouth
Monday, December 15 2008, 2:15PM
“i totaly agree with you steven. This is all about what people THINK is fat. At what weight would you concider fat? 10 stone? 12? 13? I think we should stop trying to make our children supermodels and start appreciating who they are. I have a two year old and a 6 month old and i hope they don't get dragged into appearances and notice personalities instead. Yes there is a limit on how much you weigh and too much is dangerous but if its not life threatening then leave them be. Don't blame anyone for obese children, look at yourselves and think about why you are judging them when you don't even know them. On my last point parents of obese children can't watch them every second especialy if they are at school sneaking chocolate of their friends. Is there a underlying reason to this? What about if the child is being bullied? Come on people of plymouth support our children! don't ridicule them.”