Obese children concern for Surrey County Council and NHS (From Surrey Comet)

Obese children concern for Surrey County Council and NHS

9:30am Friday 18th December 2009

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NHS Surrey has joined forces with Surrey County Council (SCC) to warn parents against childhood obesity in the county.

New figures from the Information Centre, using the Government’s National Child Measurement Programme, revealed rates of childhood obesity in Surrey were similar to other parts of the country, with about 70 per cent of reception year and year 6 children being a healthy weight, while 13 to 14 per cent of them were overweight.

The figures also showed 7 per cent of reception aged children and 14 per cent of year 6 children were obese.

Ruth Milton, director of public health for Surrey, a joint initiative between the NHS and the council, said the results were worrying.

She said: “We know on the whole people in Surrey are healthier than many other areas so we would expect levels of obesity, particularly in children, to be significantly lower - but this just isn’t the case.

“We know children who are overweight or obese are putting much more pressure on their body and as a result these children are at risk of serious health complications.

“Parents can take some very simple steps that can make a real difference. For example, by checking the levels of fat, salt and sugar in food products before they add them to the trolley and looking out for the ‘5 a day’ symbol on fruit and vegetables to make sure their children are eating enough of the right foods.”

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