MORE than a quarter of 10 and 11-year-olds in Surrey are overweight, a damning new health report has found.
It also found that 17.6 per cent of the county's Reception class children – those aged 4 and 5 – were classified as being either overweight or obese.
The figures, compiled by Public Health England during the National Child Measurement Programme, mean an estimated 57,000 Surrey children are deemed overweight, with 31,000 of those obese.
As of last year, responsibility for public health services was transferred to local authorities, with Surrey County Council becoming responsible for "Tier 1 and Tier 2" services. These include behavioural interventions regarding healthy eating and physical activity messages, and community lifestyle and weight management services.
In Reigate and Banstead, 20.3 per cent of 10 to 11-year-olds are classed as obese, as are 6.5 per cent of Reception-age children.
The same figures show 22.3 per cent of 4 to 5-year-olds are overweight, as are 35.2 per cent of 10 to 11-year-olds.
In 2011 the Health Survey for England found 11,419 Surrey children aged between 11 and 15 were classified as overweight, with 13,808 being classed as obese.
The Surrey figures will make particularly concerning reading for health officials, showing a nearly 10 per cent increase in child obesity among 4 to 5 and 10 to 11-year-olds in one year.
A report presented to Surrey County Council's Health Scrutiny Committee last week highlighted some concerns around health provisions, specifically that the council does not have an agreed strategy on weight management for children.
It also found that services varied in different parts of the county, failing to meet the needs of children at high risk. In particular it found that there were gaps in services aimed at community lifestyle changes and weight management services.
Nutritionist Emma Gardner, founder of nutrition company Appetite For Life, said the figures made worrying reading and showed more needed to be done in order to educate children about food and better diets.
She said: "It is a great concern for the health of children now and in the future. Children are less active now than they used to be but one of the biggest factors is that there is now 50 per cent more sugar in processed food than there was 30 years ago.
"There have been some really good initiatives in schools and some have started growing their own gardens and are showing where food comes from – but I think overall some children have a lack of understanding about food and more needs to be done."
