Fat pupils have fewer school pals

OVERWEIGHT children have fewer friends and are more disliked than their slimmer peers, a study found.

Researchers from the University of South California asked 504 pupils under 12 in the Netherlands to list their friends and enemies in class.

On average, children were listed as a friend by five of their classmates and as an enemy by two. However, the overweight pupils were typically considered a friend by just four classmates and were disliked by three, PLOS ONE reports.

Lead author Kayla de la Haye said: ‘Fat-shaming... increases the risk of loneliness, depression, poor eating habits and illness.’

In the UK, about one in five pupils are classed as overweight.