Kingston and Elmbridge have two of the lowest rates of obese children in England.

Data from NHS Digital for the National Child Measurement Programme 2016/17 show only 4.8 per cent of reception pupils (aged four and five) in Kingston are obese, compared to the average of 9.6 per cent, and second only to Epsom and Ewell (4.6 per cent).

Elmbridge has 5.4 per cent in the same age group, but has the lowest rate in England of obese year six pupils (aged 10 and 11) – 8.8 per cent, with Epsom and Ewell second at 9.1 per cent and the countrywide average at 20 per cent.

Kingston has 15.4 per cent in that age group.

Councillor Richard Hudson, cabinet member with responsibility for Children's Social Care and Health at Kingston Council, said: "We're delighted with this result for our young residents. There are a number of ways in which we support healthy lifestyles for children, from our 'Active Little People' physical activity programme to workshops on cooking skills for all the family.

"However, we're not complacent, we have plans in place to further improve our offer to children. Kingston has one the highest rates of participation in the London Healthy Schools Award, with the focus on healthy food choices and being active both at school and on the way to school.

“We want to widen this important scheme and encourage even more schools in our Royal Borough to take part in the future."

A child is considered obese if they have a body mass index in the highest 95 per cent of people in their age group.

Both boroughs bucked the national trend, with Kingston’s obesity rates declining in both age groups from 5.5 per cent and 17 per cent and Elmbridge’s from 5.9 per cent and 13 per cent.

Surrey County Council’s senior public health lead and dietician Jennifer Smith said: “We were thrilled to see the rates; they’re amazing. We’ve been putting a lot of effort into what we’ve been doing.

“We’ve written a healthy weight strategy, which uses a whole-system approach, including families, trading standards, countryside and children’s services. We’re working on an action plan to work together to make sure that planning can, when making decisions, expand provision for walking and cycling, and use green spaces that we’re lucky to have in Surrey.

“And these results won’t make us stop – we’ll keep going. It’s a real priority for us.”