Tackling the town's fat factor (From The Bolton News)

Tackling the town's fat factor

9:00am Friday 9th January 2009

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NEARLY a quarter of children in Bolton are obese or overweight when they start primary school, new shock data shows.

And by the time they leave for secondary school the “fat factor” rises to more than a third.

The latest figures for adults show nearly a quarter of the town’s population — about 50,000 people — are obese, and that figure is expected to reach nearly a third next year.

Work is already under way to tackle the town’s weight problem but now NHS Bolton, the primary care trust for the borough, is hoping more can be done by backing a national campaign targeting the issue.

Change4Life is a Government scheme to support families, particularly children, in eating well, taking more exercise and, consequently, living longer.

An advertising campaign launched this week raises awareness of the health risks connected with obesity and gives information on how to combat the problem.

NHS Bolton says the campaign messages are “crucially important”.

Jan Hutchinson, director of public health, said: “There’s a huge amount of work already going on in Bolton.

“The national campaign will give a real boost to local work, helping get across important messages.

“This campaign is about families enjoying healthy meals and having fun getting active together.”

More than one-in-10 reception pupils — 12.5 per cent — aged four or five are overweight, and 9.5 per cent obese.

When they reach Year Six, aged 10 and 11, 14.4 per cent are overweight and 17.2 per cent obese.

Latest figures show that more than 51,000 adults in Bolton are obese, with the number expected to rise to more than 56,000 sometime next year.

Adults are classed as obese if their body mass index is 30 or more, although a more complex formula is used to work out if children are overweight.

Cllr Andy Morgan, chairman of Bolton Council’s health scrutiny committee, has welcomed the campaign and work of NHS Bolton but wants parents to get more involved.

He said: “It is ridiculous and shocking that children are starting school with these problems.

“As an obese person myself I know how hard it is once you are in this situation.

“I welcome this initiative because we have got to do all we can to make sure children are educated as early as possible.

“But parents need to take responsibility too and act in the years before their children start school.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about Change4Life should visit nhs.uk/change4life or contact 0300 1234567.

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