ACS

Nearly a quarter of children aged between four and five are obese or overweight, according to new government figures. According to statistics released by the Department of Health, almost a third of 10 and 11-year-olds are overweight. The figures come from the Government's 2006/07 weighing scheme, in which 80 per cent of children starting and finishing primary school took part.

Obesity rates for children in reception class and year six were highest in London, the North East, and West Midlands, said the report. The South East coast and the South West coast had the lowest obesity prevalence for reception and year six respectively. Boys aged four and five and ten and eleven are more likely to be obese than their female peers.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said the figures "come as no surprise" but it was "encouraging" that more than 900,000 children had been weighed as part of the national child measurement programme.

She pointed to the government's £372m obesity strategy "which supports creation of a healthy society for children and adults in all fields" and stressed the need to support parents in ensuring a healthy diet.

"Knowing how many children are overweight or obese and spotting trends is key to ensuring that families, communities, public services, industry and government take the right action in tackling obesity," she said.

Dr David Haslam, clinical director of the National Obesity Forum, said if you went into a school playground you would not predict that many children were overweight.

"Our perception of weight has changed. We're looking at overweight children and not seeing them as overweight. The reason we have these figures is because being overweight is a health risk - we should be paying more attention."

He welcomed the fact that a higher proportion of children were taking part in the scheme.

"The figures need to be used to put pressure on the government and the food industry and schools themselves. It's a serious and major problem."

Stuart Barber, head of policy and public affairs for the British Heart Foundation, said the figures were "distressing".

"How can our children be expected to make informed food choices if healthy food messages are constantly drowned out by a tidal wave of junk food marketing."