Quarter of NE children start school overweight or obese
It’s claimed childhood obesity is becoming out of control in the North East, as we can reveal almost a quarter of children start primary school overweight or obese.
It’s claimed childhood obesity is becoming out of control in the North East, as we can reveal almost a quarter of children start primary school overweight or obese.
Last year 23.7% of children in reception were overweight or obese, above the national average of 21.9%.
Redcar and Cleveland topped the list with 27.4% and South Tyneside peaked highest in Tyne and Wear, at 25.4%. Sunderland had the lowest figure for our region of 22.1% of reception children recorded overweight or obese.
Michelle Garton, from Get Fit North East, says they’ve seen an increased demand in youngsters joining their classes with weight problems. She said:
“We’re seeing more and more cases of obese children coming to classes but that is good because we’re trying to help them and the parents are trying to help them by bringing them along but we are definitely seeing more and more unfit children.
“If we didn’t offer this kind of service or nobody in the area did, then childhood obesity would rise and rise. I don’t think there would be much chance for a child to make decisions outside of school to go and get fit and healthy if we didn’t offer them.”
Luke Frost has faced his own battle with obesity.
Following the death of his father when he was 13, he became addicted to sugary energy drinks.
His weight reached 27 stones and he now leads Thornaby Community Partnership and helps kids in the area get fit. He said:
"We're at a crisis point where there's toddlers entering primary school who're not only overweight but clinically obese, with some having to go into surgery.
"If you speak to anyone of the older generation, they'll tell you that they learned to cook standing in a kitchen.
"Now children who are learning in the kitchen are learning how to put a pizza in the oven or put a ready meal in the microwave.
"We've lost that connection with food."
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