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Share your thoughts here. * UK * UK politics * education * media * society * law * scotland * wales * northern ireland (BUTTON) more sign in * Comment activity * Edit profile * Email preferences * Change password * Sign out become a supporter subscribe search find a job dating more from the guardian: * dating * find a job change edition: * switch to the UK edition switch to the US edition switch to the AU edition International edition * switch to the UK edition * switch to the US edition * switch to the Australia edition The Guardian - Back to home * home * › UK * › society * law * scotland * wales * northern ireland * education * media * home * UK selected * world * sport * football * opinion * culture * business * lifestyle * fashion * environment * tech * travel browse all sections close Obesity Obesity among children starting primary school continues to rise Health campaigners call for restrictions on junk food marketing as NHS figures show higher levels of obesity in deprived areas A boy playing football in Rotherham [ ] A boy playing football in Rotherham. The figures show major regional disparities. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian Obesity Obesity among children starting primary school continues to rise Health campaigners call for restrictions on junk food marketing as NHS figures show higher levels of obesity in deprived areas Press Association Thursday 19 October 2017 11.00 BST Last modified on Thursday 19 October 2017 16.26 BST * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share via Email * (BUTTON) View more sharing options * Share on LinkedIn * Share on Pinterest * Share on Google+ * Share on WhatsApp * Share on Messenger * (BUTTON) Close This article is 1 month old Obesity among children starting their first year of primary school has risen for the second year in a row. Figures from NHS Digital show 9.6% of children in reception classes in 2016-17 are obese, compared with 9.3% the year before. One-fifth of year 6 children (aged 10-11) are obese, the same as in 2015-16. The statistics for more than 1 million pupils across England show 32.4% of girls and 36.1% of boys in the final primary school year are overweight or obese, while the figures for reception are 22.1% and 23.1% respectively. More than twice as many children in deprived areas are obese as in affluent areas. In Kingston upon Thames, south-west London, 4.8% of children in reception are obese, compared with 13.5% in Wolverhampton. For year 6 pupils, 11.3% in Rutland, east Midlands, are obese, compared with 29.2% in Barking and Dagenham, east London. Dr Alison Tedstone, the chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said: “Children deserve a healthy future and these figures are a reminder that addressing childhood obesity requires urgent action. “There is no single solution to reverse what’s been decades in the making. We need sustained actions to tackle poor diets and excess calorie intakes. “We’re working with industry to make food healthier, we’ve produced guidance for councils on planning healthier towns, and we’ve delivered campaigns encouraging people to choose healthier food and lead healthier lives.” Caroline Cerny, who leads the Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 organisations, said: “Each year, the childhood obesity statistics tell the same devastating story. “Obesity continues to rise and it’s the children from the most deprived backgrounds who have the odds stacked against them. “The government says that tackling obesity is a priority. The soft drinks levy and the sugar reduction programme are both positive steps. But a real commitment to tackling obesity means also getting to grips with the environment in which our children grow up. “Adverts for unhealthy foods have a significant impact on consumption habits, and we want to see immediate action to restrict junk food marketing at children, both online and on TV before the 9pm watershed.” Topics * Obesity * Children * Health * NHS * news * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share via Email * Share on LinkedIn * Share on Pinterest * Share on Google+ * Share on WhatsApp * Share on Messenger * Reuse this content more on this story * Kellogg's UK prompts anger by branding Frosties an adult cereal Company has been accused of attempting to get around child obesity sugar rules Published: 1 Dec 2017 Kellogg's UK prompts anger by branding Frosties an adult cereal * Children seeing up to 12 adverts for junk food an hour on TV, study finds Health experts call for ministers to ban adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt before 9pm watershed, saying rules are ‘not fit for purpose’ Published: 28 Nov 2017 Children seeing up to 12 adverts for junk food an hour on TV, study finds * UK is most obese country in western Europe, OECD finds Campaigners criticise ‘pathetic’ measures to tackle crisis as report shows 26.9% of Britain’s population is obese Published: 11 Nov 2017 UK is most obese country in western Europe, OECD finds * Men are putting on weight – and the diagnosis is grim Neil Boom More men are developing type 2 diabetes. I knew I was at risk, but I needed a nudge, writes Neil Boom, managing director of Gresham PR Published: 27 Nov 2017 Men are putting on weight – and the diagnosis is grim * + Supersized chocolate bars and sweet bags banned from hospitals Published: 16 Oct 2017 Supersized chocolate bars and sweet bags banned from hospitals + UK leads the way with its fizzy drink tax - it should cover sweets too Patrick Collinson Published: 12 Oct 2017 UK leads the way with its fizzy drink tax - it should cover sweets too + Shocking figures show there are now 124 million obese children worldwide Published: 10 Oct 2017 Shocking figures show there are now 124 million obese children worldwide + Global cost of obesity-related illness to hit $1.2tn a year from 2025 Published: 10 Oct 2017 Global cost of obesity-related illness to hit $1.2tn a year from 2025 (BUTTON) More more on this story most viewed The Guardian back to top * home * UK selected * world * sport * football * opinion * culture * business * lifestyle * fashion * environment * tech * travel all sections close * home * UK selected + education + media + society selected + law + scotland + wales + northern ireland * world + europe + US + americas + asia + australia + africa + middle east + cities + development * sport + football + cricket + rugby union + F1 + tennis + golf + cycling + boxing + racing + rugby league * football + live scores + tables + competitions + results + fixtures + clubs * opinion + columnists + letters + editorials * culture + film + tv & radio + music + games + books + art & design + stage + classical * business + economics + banking + retail + markets + project syndicate * lifestyle + food + recipes + health & fitness + love & sex + family + women + home & garden * fashion * environment + climate change + wildlife + energy + pollution * tech * travel + UK + europe + US * money + property + savings + pensions + borrowing + careers * science * professional networks * the observer * today's paper + obituaries + g2 + weekend + the guide + saturday review * sunday's paper + comment + the new review + observer magazine * membership * crosswords + blog + editor + quick + cryptic + prize + quiptic + genius + speedy + everyman + azed + weekend * video + podcasts * digital archive * UK News * › Society * › Obesity * UK * UK politics * education * media * society * law * scotland * wales * northern ireland back to top IFRAME: /email/form/footer/37 * become a supporter * make a contribution * securedrop * ask for help * advertise with us * work for us * contact us * complaints & corrections * terms & conditions * privacy policy * cookie policy * digital newspaper archive * all topics * all contributors * Facebook * Twitter © 2017 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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