PARENTS, teachers and council leaders have responded to figures that show that almost a quarter of reception age children in Worcestershire are obese or overweight.

Statistics from Worcestershire County Council revealed that 23.4 per cent of reception year children were classed as obese or overweight in 2016/17, up from 23.3 per cent the previous year.

The national picture was that 22.6 per cent of reception age children were overweight or obese in 2017/16, putting Worcestershire above the UK average.

There was a sizeable gap between the richest and poorest in Worcestershire in 2016/17, with 39.3 per cent of Year 6 children overweight or obese in the most deprived areas, compared to 29.8 per cent in the least deprived. The equivalent figures for reception year are 26.5 per cent (most deprived) and 19.3 per cent (least deprived).

Some parents said they feared that government weightloss schemes "shame" pupils, but the county councillor responsible for health and wellbeing said that was not the aim.

Julie Jackson, 48, from Droitwich, told the Worcester News that she believes we live in “an anti-fattest society” and added: “If you are poor, the high fat options are easier and more readily available”.

Kristi Roberts, 26, from Blackpole in Worcester, has two young children and believes that the increase in obesity amongst young children is because “fast food is so readily available” and suggested that there be an investment in healthier food stores around the city. 

 Miss Roberts’s partner, Aaron Oliver, 21, added: “It’s no good slagging off the parents, they need healthier meals in school.”  

 Cllr John Smith, county cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “It is not a matter of shaming people, but making them more aware.”

He said the council worked with organisations including the NHS and schools to help people achieve a healthy weight.

Lars Frederiksen, 46, of Britannia Square in Worcester, who has three children, said: “The issue is highlighted well in school but it is something that we need to be more aware of.”

 Vivenne Cranton, headteacher at Fairfield Community Primary School, said staff “promote healthy eating through our curriculum in PSHE, DT, science and our trust catering.”

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