London, Dec 26 (IANS) Britain is facing a growing weight crisis among primary school children with a quarter already overweight or obese when they start school at the age of four, revealed a report.
And by the time the children leave primary school at the age of 11, more than one in three will be too fat and at serious risk of long-term health problems.
Despite millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money being spent on government initiatives to reduce childhood obesity, the survey of one million youngsters revealed that rates have actually increased over the last few years, the Daily Mail reports.
A total of 33.3 percent of children leaving primary school are now classified as ‘too fat,’ compared to 31.7 per cent in 2006-07.
Many also have very high blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin levels – symptoms usually associated with patients in their 50s and 60s.
Doctors have warned that they are seeing teenagers as young as 15 with early signs of heart disease caused by high-fat diets and lack of exercise.
Experts say the obesity figures prove that ministers’ initiatives to promote healthy school meals and physical education have failed.
Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said: ‘Government assurances last year that childhood obesity levels were levelling off have been found to be sadly wanting.
‘Any hope that Whitehall may have had for a quick fix to the epidemic has been shattered by these figures.’
