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10:12am Tuesday 13th January 2009
NEARLY one in five ten-year-olds in Southampton is clinically obese, new figures have revealed.
Some 18.6 per cent of children in year six are so overweight that it could threaten their life, Government research has found.
Almost one in ten children (9.3 per cent) are obese by the time they reach school age in the city.
The figures from the 2007/08 academic year have been compiled under the National Child Measurement Programme that charts the weight of children through primary school.
In Hampshire 15.9 per cent of year six children and 8.3 per cent of reception children were classed as obese.
Research has pointed to a range of reasons why obesity is on the increase including the rise of convenience foods, marketing of unhealthy foods and people taking less exercise.
Health chiefs have described the figures as alarming. They say a cultural shift is needed if the problem of overweight children is to be tackled.
This year for the first time the figures will be given to parents of the children who are severely overweight in an effort to target those most at risk.
The Primary Care Trust is working with the city council to compile a directory that will pin-point all the services promoting healthier living that are available to parents and families.
Clubs are also being set up to support families of youngsters with weight problems.
Southampton City Primary Care Trust fit for life co-ordinator Marie Johnson said: “These figures are rising and they are high at the moment. Childhood obesity is a problem across the country, but in Southampton a lot of work is already being done to tackle it and I think we are stepping up to that challenge.”
Hampshire PCT is working to add to the 74 per cent of schools that have already achieved healthy schools status. One initiative is delivering a Jamie Oliver-style cookery programme where school cooks are holding after school sessions to show families how to create healthy meals.
‘Alarming’ Jill Corbett, health improvement project manager for Hampshire Primary Care Trust, said: “These figures are still alarming. It is going to take time to make the changes, but parents ultimately want to do what’s best for their children and I am positive that by tackling it as a family rather then individual children we will get there.”
The work comes under the Government’s healthy living campaign called Change4Life where whole families are being encouraged to make healthier choices.
joenice, southampton says...
10:34am Tue 13 Jan 09
west_end_legend, Southampton says...
10:47am Tue 13 Jan 09
goard, Southampton says...
11:43am Tue 13 Jan 09
yummy_mummy, Locks Heath says...
12:16pm Tue 13 Jan 09
goard wrote:Not sure I totally understand your post (!) but I know that chicken nuggets and chips cost more than a homecooked shepherds pie or a lasagne.... and are so simply to make that you really don't have to be a good cook.
Don't kick the fatties look at the reason - society has encouraged this sad life - I would like to say that perhaps with the severe cut back of pies and fatty materials it will be a matter of veg and down to earth boring food if you are not a good cook - well if one is that desperate you will eat anything - its all a matter of how much money you have in your pocket - Fatties may be judged by how much family income in coming in. goard
Bill Loney, Ampshire says...
12:33pm Tue 13 Jan 09
yummy_mummy wrote:Goard's posts normally resemble a Palindrome, they make as much sense read backwards.
goard wrote: Don't kick the fatties look at the reason - society has encouraged this sad life - I would like to say that perhaps with the severe cut back of pies and fatty materials it will be a matter of veg and down to earth boring food if you are not a good cook - well if one is that desperate you will eat anything - its all a matter of how much money you have in your pocket - Fatties may be judged by how much family income in coming in. goardNot sure I totally understand your post (!) but I know that chicken nuggets and chips cost more than a homecooked shepherds pie or a lasagne.... and are so simply to make that you really don't have to be a good cook. I blame laziness and idle parents. Very sad.
goard, Southampton says...
12:40pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Bill Loney, Ampshire says...
12:45pm Tue 13 Jan 09
goard wrote:Goard, it's your posts that keep me going.
Yummie - there you go - put a pot on and put in diced carrots, swedes, onions and a dollop of tomato sauce and if you have some cheap old mince - put it in, stew it for an hour and serve - God, a lovely Mcdonalds hows your father sounds good!! But with variations - THIS WILL KEEP YOU GOING. GOARD
Condor Man, Southampton says...
1:05pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Miles Sway, Scotland says...
1:19pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Mahoney212, southampton says...
1:38pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Lib Lob, says...
2:06pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Becs212, Southampton says...
3:42pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Derek of Dibden Purlieu, Hampshire says...
4:51pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Miles Sway wrote:"unless there's a real underlying medical condition"
What's the percentage coming from clinically obese parents? 100%?
The NHS should refuse to treat any adult who's clinically obese unless there's a real underlying medical condition - maybe then they'll learn not to inflict the same on their kids.
Miles Sway, Scotland says...
5:07pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Derek of Dibden Purlieu wrote:I agree with you Derek, I only mentioned that as apparently some chubbies do have medical problem/imbalance that causes obesity - can't see it myself, but benefit of the doubt if there's a genuine case out there.
Miles Sway wrote:"unless there's a real underlying medical condition"
What's the percentage coming from clinically obese parents? 100%?
The NHS should refuse to treat any adult who's clinically obese unless there's a real underlying medical condition - maybe then they'll learn not to inflict the same on their kids.
Perhaps a study group ought to visit Darfur or Somalia where these conditions don't seem to exist.
Without any medical qualifications whatsoever I can state that a fast food diet of cr*ap coupled with no exercise will turn you in to a lard-ar*e.
D'Arcy Sarto, Hythe says...
5:18pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Henry the cat, West End says...
7:19pm Tue 13 Jan 09
sadtobehere, Southampton says...
8:21pm Tue 13 Jan 09
LL, Southampton says...
9:47pm Tue 13 Jan 09
Nearly an OAP, Southampton says...
11:30am Wed 14 Jan 09
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rich the stitch, says...
10:30am Tue 13 Jan 09