Off the scale?
DATA REVEALS ‘WORRYING’ LEVELS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY
NEW data has revealed the numbers of children in Greater Manchester - and the areas where they live - who have been classed as obese or overweight. A child’s Body Mass Index - BMI naturally changes as they grow and can be different for boys and girls, meaning measuring obesity in children is far more complex than it is for adults.
Children of different ages and sexes grow and develop at differing rates, according to the NHS.
An adult with a BMI of 25 to 30 is classed as overweight, and one with a BMI of 30 or over as obese.
BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of a height in metres.
The official figures are from the National Child Measurement Programme and represent a three year average for 2016/17-2018/19, published in March.
For children, the programme said the BMI calculation is compared to a reference sample of measurements gathered in 1990, which takes age and sex into account.
The schools-based programme, which parents can opt out of, measures the height and weight of children in Reception - aged four to five - and Year Six aged 10 to 11 - to assess weight and obesity levels within primary schools.
Local authorities are asked to collect data on children’s height and weight from all state-maintained schools within their area.
The idea is for the results to help parents make informed lifestyle choices for their children.
Advice and key support contacts are offered in letters sent home.
Parents, however, have called for the calculations to be revisited to allow for the naturally varying body shapes of youngsters.
The data - analysed by the Manchester Evening News’ Data Unit - shows the areas of Greater Manchester with the highest percentage of children classed as overweight or obese.
In the Woodhouse Park area of Wythenshawe, the official figures show 30 per cent of Year Six children - aged 10 and 11 - are considered to be obese, while a further 15pc are overweight.
That’s the highest area of Greater Manchester, according to the programme.
Other areas in the top 10 for Greater Manchester are: Gorton and Abbey Hey; Harpurhey, north Manchester; Moston, north Manchester; Sharston; Clayton and Openshaw; Ince, Wigan; West Heywood, near Rochdale; Little Hulton, Salford; Longsight.
You can see how your ward compares by using our postcodesearch gadget on our website at manchestereveningnews.co.uk.
Children are classified as overweight (including obese) if their BMI is on or above the 85th centile of the British 1990 growth reference (UK90) according to age and sex.
Children are classified as obese if their BMI is on or above the 95th centile of the British 1990 growth reference (UK90) according to age and sex.
But one mum in Stockport said calculations around BMI centiles should be revisited to allow for varying body shapes of young children.
If her daughter was a few centimetres taller, she would have been classed as a ‘healthy’ weight.
The mum said: “I am obviously concerned with my children’s health and strive to provide a healthy lifestyle for them.
“When I received a letter from school, informing me that my fiveyear-old daughter was overweight, I was surprised to say the least.
“Whilst she is a stocky build, she isn’t at all overweight and I can only think the result was based on the fact that she is relatively short for her age.
“Whilst I fully support the government’s effort to reduce obesity levels in children, I think the calculations around BMI centiles need to be revisited to allow for varying body shapes of young children and the ‘overweight’ markers reassessed to ensure only children with an actual obesity problem are highlighted to parents.”
The government has recently announced measures to tackle childhood obesity, including a ban on the advertising of food high in fat, sugar or salt on television and online before 9pm.
The strategy also includes restricting volume promotions, ending the promotion of high fat, sugar and salt products by volume and location, both online and in store, and introducing calorie labelling of food and drink in large restaurants, cafes and takeaways.
But Caroline Cerny, alliance lead at Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 health charities, medical royal colleges and campaign groups, said: “These are extremely worrying numbers.
“Excess weight in childhood can lead to a number of health problems and often negatively affects children’s self-esteem.
“Children with a weight classified as obese are much more likely to still be living with obesity as adults which can increase their risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
“But it doesn’t have to be like this. The government can play a key role in shaping an environment that makes it easier for families to be healthier. We are pleased that the government has recently announced plans to bring in new stricter rules about how and where unhealthy foods can be promoted, including a 9pm watershed on TV and online and removal of sugary foods from checkouts.”
The data shows that across the country, 20pc of 10 and 11-year-olds, and 10pc of four and five-year-olds, are classed as obese, while a further 14pc of Year 6 pupils and 13pc of children in Reception are overweight.
Meanwhile, Hale Central in Trafford has the lowest proportion of childhood obesity and excess weight in Greater Manchester, and one of the lowest rates in the country.
There, just 4pc of Reception children kids and 10 pc of those in Year 6 are classed as clinically obese, while a further 11pc of four and fiveyear-olds, and 12pc of 10 and 11-year-olds, are overweight.
A government spokesperson said: “We are determined to tackle the problem of obesity across all ages and this week launched a world leading strategy to help reduce obesity rates and help everyone live healthier lives.”
However, the Labour Party is sceptical of the announcement.
Alex Norris MP, Labour’s Shadow Health and Social Care Minister, said: “We’ve had big promises before from Tory ministers on banning junk food advertising only for measures to be kicked into the long grass of consultation.
“But an effective obesity strategy needs action, not consultation. The Tories have pared public health to the bone and people are paying the price for ten years of this complacency.”