Child obesity 'levelling off', says govt

Published: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:30:00

The government has today said that the rapid rise in child obesity may be levelling off. Ministers said new data showed progress on obesity after the "healthy towns help communities Change4Life" initiative. Figures from Oxford University showed forecasts of childhood obesity levels would have to be revised downwardly.

The data, based on predictions up to 2020, showed a 17 per cent drop in the forecast of overweight girls aged two to 11, over the last few years, and in boys of the same age, the figures indicate a five per cent drop in the forecast number of overweight boys. Public health minister Gillian Merron said: "Obesity is one of the biggest health challenges we face, there are currently 1.5 million children and 25 million adults that are overweight or obese, leaving them at increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart and liver disease.

"The encouraging news that child obesity may be levelling off is thanks to the hard work of families, schools and the NHS across England, supported by government initiatives such as five-a-day and healthy schools, which have overseen improvements to school food and school sport. "But obesity levels are still too high and we need to keep the momentum going – that's why I'm delighted to see our campaigns such as the Change4Life healthy towns being so successful." The Change4Life healthy towns, launched a year ago this month, are Dudley, Halifax, Sheffield, Tower Hamlets, Thetford, Middlesbrough, Manchester, Tewkesbury and Portsmouth. Each went through a selection process and shared a £30 government investment.

Over the year, initiatives in Change4Life healthy towns have included free fruit and veg for the 5,629 year seven pupils in Sheffield and Change4Life corner shops stocking fresh fruit and veg in Tower Hamlets.

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