P1s at high obesity risk

P1 children from the poorest areas are almost twice as likely to be at risk of obesity as those from the least deprived areas, new figures have shown.

Official statistics show 12.9 per cent of P1 pupils in Scotland’s most deprived areas were classed as being “at risk of obesity” in 2017-18 compared to 6.5 per cent in the country’s most well-off areas.

The report found since 2002-3 the proportion of children at risk of being overweight or obese had increased in the most deprived areas, but fallen in the least deprived places, resulting in “high levels of inequality”.

The document said there are now “substantial inequalities in child unhealthy weight across Scotland”.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for action to tackle the problem.

Party health spokesman Alex Cole-hamilton said: “It’s really worrying to learn that children’s backgrounds continue to have such a serious influence over their health. These statistics ought to ring alarm bells for ministers.

“Obesity can affect people’s quality of life and puts a huge strain on the NHS.”

More than three-quarters (76.5 per cent) of P1 children in 2017-18 had a body mass index in the healthy weight range, according to the NHS National Services Scotland data published yesterday.

The study found 2.3 per cent of children were classed as at risk of being overweight and 10.1 per cent were at risk of obesity. A further 1.1 per cent of P1s were at risk of being underweight.

Boys were found to be slightly less likely than girls to be of a healthy weight.

The report was based on data from 52,534 children who had a P1 review in 201718 – about 87.6 per cent of the estimated population of five-year-olds living in Scotland in mid-2017.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We’re determined to improve Scotland’s diet and increase the number of people with a healthy weight.”.