Child obesity 'doubles in a decade', figures show

Levels of child obesity in England have doubled in ten years, according to the latest figures.

According to a survey of 2,000 children by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, around a quarter of children aged between 11 and 15-years-old were classified as obese in 2004.

Between 1995 and 2004, obesity rates among boys increased from 14% to 24% and from 15% to 26% for girls.

The survey also showed that obesity among adults was continuing to rise, with the obesity among men increasing from 13% to 24% and from 16% to 24% among women.

However, the survey also showed that people were exercising more and eating more fruit and vegetables. Less people were also smoking.

The number of men eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day increased from 22% in 2001 to 24% in 2004, while the figures for women increased from 25% to 27%.

The number of people exercising moderately for 30 minutes or more five or more times a week also increased between 1997 and 2004 from 32% to 35% for men and from 21% to 24% for women.

The number of people who smoked also dropped between 1993 and 2004, falling from 28% to 22% for men and from 26% to 23% for women.

The overall cost of obesity to the NHS is estimated to be around £1 billion.

Professor Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said that the figures demonstrated a "public health timebomb" and warned that obesity would have a "significant impact on longevity", because obesity in adolescence was associated with the early onset of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. He said: "We are in danger of raising a generation of people who have a shorter life expectancy than their parents."

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said that the government recognised that more needed to be done.

(KMcA/GB)