Record numbers of children are severely obese by their final year of primary school, figures showed today.
Annual data from Public Health England revealed the proportion of pupils aged 10-11 who are seriously overweight rose for the fourth year in a row to 4.4 per cent, 26,158 children.
The proportion of overweight or obese pupils in Reception Year was up slightly at 22.6 per cent.
The National Child Measurement Programme showed inequalities were worsening, with obesity rates in the poorest places more than double those of the richest areas.
The figures came after former chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies called for a ban on food on public transport to tackle the crisis.
PHE’s Dr Alison Tedstone said: “Severe obesity in Year Six has reached a new high, putting children at risk of poor mental and physical health, now and as they become adults.”
NHS chief Simon Stevens said: “These figures show… we are clearly not on track to meet the Government’s sensible goal of halving childhood obesity.”
