Warning fromtop professor

cent (up from 0.4 per cent) were underweight; 84.4 per cent per cent were at a healthy weight (down from 84.8 per cent); 9.0 per cent were overweight (up from 8.5 per cent); 3.6 per cent were obese (down from 4.0 per cent); and 2.5 per cent were severely obese (up from 2.4 per cent).

The statistics are derived from height and weight measurements recorded at the primary one health review.

BMI assesses body composition in children aged two or older and adults. It is calculated by dividing an individual’s weight (in kilogrammes) by their height squared (in square metres) and gives an indication of whether weight is in proportion to height. Generally, it gives a good indication of body composition, but can occasionally misclassify those with heavy musculature as being overweight or obese.

NHS Lanarkshire have teamed up with council bosses for a new programme called Healthy Families.

It is a free class that parents and children can attend together. The idea behind it is that small changes can make a huge difference to families.

Classes last for one hour and are for children aged two to five and any parent, guardian or grandparent.

Healthy Families will be running in venues across Lanarkshire.

To book your free place in South Lanarkshire, get in touch with Lindsay Meighan on Lindsay.meighan@ southlanarkshireleisure.co.uk or 01698 476157

And in North Lanarkshire, contact Craig Holmes on Craig. holmes@nlleisure.com or 01236 341968. Scottish toddlers are scoffing an astonishing one million sweets every week.

That is the warning from a charity who said more needs to be done following the release of obesity stats for primary one children.

Professor Linda Bauld, is Cancer Research UK’S cancer prevention expert, and she said: “When we’re seeing so many children as young as four overweight and obese, it’s clear the need for urgent action has never been greater.

“Supermarket multibuy offers on junk food and sugary drinks are fuelling this alarming trend, encouraging us to stock up on unhealthy food.

“Introducing laws to restrict harmful price promotions would be one of the most effective ways to help families shop more healthily, helping us to stack the odds of not getting cancer in our favour. More than four million sugary drinks are consumed by Scotland’s children every week. Our toddlers are eating a million sweets a week. Many of these items are purchased on price promotions.”

She added: “Excess weight is Scotland’s biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. It’s a significant health problem and merits bold action.”