Children overweight as they start school

9:33am Thursday 4th December 2008

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More than one in five children starting school in East Sussex are regarded as overweight or obese, according to new figures.

Health bosses have now drawn up a plan to improve lifestyles and reduce the prospects of future health problems.

Figures published in the county director of public health’s annual report show 23% of children in Reception classes are heavier than they should be.

The percentage for ten and 11-yearolds rises to 30%.

Experts warn that carrying extra weight at such a young age can lead to heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

In an attempt to improve children’s diet and provide information about nutrition, East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Hastings and Rother PCT are planning to extend their healthy eating groups in schools.

They also intend to encourage young people to do more exercise.

The Argus reported earlier this year that almost 20% of 11 and 12-year-olds in Brighton and Hove were classed as obese and 105 of those aged five were also dangerously overweight.

In West Sussex, one in seven 11 and 12-year-olds and 9% of five-year-olds are obese or overweight.

Dealing with diseases related to obesity and being overweight costs the NHS in Sussex more than £415 million a year.

Diana Grice, director of public health for East Sussex, said: “Infancy, childhood and young adulthood are stages of life when people develop habits which will affect people’s health in later years.

“To tackle the rising number of children who are overweight the PCTs in East Sussex, in partnership with East Sussex County Council, have introduced a special food-in-schools programme to encourage healthier eating as well as physical activity action groups .”