Alarming new figures revealed by the Local Government Association (LGA) shows almost 60% more children in their last year of primary school are classed as ‘severely obese’ than in their first year.

The LGA which represents 370 councils in England and Wales obtained statistics which shows children rapidly gaining weight and becoming unhealthier as they progress through primary school.

It warns the severity of child obesity rates are contributing to a ‘multi-billion pound ill-health time bomb.’

Each year, Public Health England produces figures on childhood obesity and for the first time this year. They included a ‘severely obese’ category. The statistics are worrying and action should be taken now to prevent an obesity epidemic which is costing the NHS more than £5bn every year.  

The first data of its kind for 2016/17, supplied by the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), shows a total of 22,646 out of 556,452 (4.1%) of 10 and 11-year-olds in Year 6 are classed as severely obese. This compares with 14,787 out of 629,359 (2.35%) of four and five-year-olds in reception class.  

How obesity is calculated
To determine a healthy weight in adults Body Mass Index (BMI) is used and its calculated using weight divided by height squared). Because children under 18 are still growing, their BMI is plotted in a chart with reference to the heights and weights of a comparable population – in this case the measurements of British children and young adults from nought to 23 years old collected between 1978 and 1994. This measurement is known as the UK90 and is used to create a fixed point of comparison, so that while the population as a whole gets heavier, the threshold of what we consider healthy doesn't creep up. A BMI of 40 or above means a person is severely obese – at least 60 per cent higher than the upper healthy weight BMI limit of 24.9. Severe obesity puts people at serious risk of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. It can also shorten a person’s life by 10 years. Using the UK90 measurement, any child whose BMI is in the 95^th percentile is obese, and those above 99.6% are severely obese. In 2017 40,000 children were classed as obese and a further 20,000 as severely obese by the time they finished primary school in England and Wales. The LGA’s prevention work, including the ability of councils to provide weight management services for children and adults, has been hampered by a £600m reduction in councils’ public health budgets by central government between 2015/16 and 2019/20. The LGA is calling for reductions in public health grants to be reversed by the government and for further reforms to tackle childhood obesity. This includes councils having a say in how and where the soft drinks levy is spent, better labelling on food and drink products, and for councils to be given powers to ban junk food advertising near schools. Councillor Izzi Seccombe, chair of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “These new figures on severely obese children, who are in the most critical overweight category, are a further worrying wake-up call for urgent joined-up action. The UK is already the most obese nation in Western Europe, with one in three 10- and 11-year-olds and one in five four- and five-year-olds classed as overweight or obese, respectively. Severe obesity rates are highest in children living in the most-deprived towns and cities, and those from black and minority ethnic groups, which the LGA suggested shows a need for more targeted interventions. “Unless we tackle this obesity crisis, today’s obese children will become tomorrow’s obese adults whose years of healthy life will be shortened by a whole host of health problems including diabetes, cancer and heart disease.” “Cuts to councils’ public health grants by government are having a significant impact on the many prevention and early intervention services carried out by councils to combat child obesity. “This short-sighted approach risks causing NHS costs to snowball due to the ill health consequences of obesity in our younger generation.”  

'Ban cartoon characters and junk food advertising before 9pm' - demand ministers
The government published a childhood obesity plan in 2016. Many health campaigners criticised the lack of new curbs for junk food advertising. A group of MPs is demanding a complete ban on junk food advertising before 9pm as well as removing influential cartoon characters such as Tony the Tiger and the Milky Bar Kid that promote unhealthy food.                                     
However characters like the Jolly Green Giant could still promote healthy food. The committee also calls for:

• supermarkets to be forced to remove sweets, chocolate and other unhealthy snacks from the ends of aisles and checkout areas
• junk food price promotions, like multi-buys, should be restricted
• local authorities should have the power to limit the number of fast food outlets opening in their areas
• government to ban sponsorship of sports clubs, venues, youth leagues and tournaments by brands associated with unhealthy products
• social media firms like Facebook should reduce children's exposure to junk food advertising

Dr Wollaston, the committee chair, said: “Children are becoming obese at an earlier age and staying obese for longer.” “Obesity rates are highest for children from the most disadvantaged communities and this unacceptable health inequality has widened every year since records began. “The consequences for these children are appalling and this can no longer be ignored.” She called for a “whole systems approach” to fighting obesity where local authorities can use planning and licensing powers to reduce the number of junk food outlets in their jurisdiction while ministers bring in tougher restrictions on marketing unhealthy treats. The government has already introduced a sugar tax on fizzy drinks, but the MPs called on it to go further with "fiscal measures". That includes extending the sugar tax to milk-based drinks such as milkshakes.  

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Our childhood obesity plan is among the most comprehensive in the world – our sugar tax is funding school sports programmes and nutritious breakfasts for the poorest children, and we’re investing in further research into the links between obesity and inequality. “However, we have always been very clear that this is the not the final word on obesity, and we have not ruled out further action if the right results are not seen.” "We are in the process of working up an updated plan, and will be in a position to say more shortly."