Six And Seven-Year-Olds In Leeds Think They're Fat

Children as young as six, in Leeds, are dissatisfied with their body.

New research from Leeds Beckett University found that a worrying number of children are unhappy with how they look - which could lead them to restricting what they eat while they're still developing.

They looked at 8 local primary schools and found that children aged six and seven, who are overweight, are worried and could be trying to diet.

It also found that girls worry about being thin more than boys.

Pinki Sahota is a Professor of Nutrition and Childhood Obesity at the University, she says this could affect their growth.

"To enable them to grow and develop properly they need a healthy balanced diet, so if they're trying to cut back on what they're eating, they're going to be jeopardising their growth and development, perhaps not growing in height and having other nutiritional deficiencies".

She also says that children who worry about their body could develop low self-esteem which might continue into adulthood.

The report wants to see programs in schools promote healthy lifestyle habits.

"What we would like is children to have healthy, balanced diets, be physically active and happy during their childhood... That would also hopefully lead to a healthy weight and prevent childhood obesity".