THE number of Bolton four-year-olds who are obese has risen sharply and one in five 11-year-olds are grossly fat, alarming new figures show.

Around one in 10 children are obese when they start school.

That’s 1,051 of Bolton four year-olds. Almost 2,400 are overweight — 20 per cent of the total.

In year six, 2,058 10 to 11-year-olds were obese last year and a further 34.4 per cent were overweight.

Bolton Council said that it is committed to tackling obesity. But its own report revealed that obesity amongst children was increasing rather than reducing — and more steeply than those in other areas. Stockport had the lowest figure with just 16.3 per cent of pupils categorised as obese while Manchester was the worst performing borough at 24.7 per cent.

The report stated: “Release of the National Child Measurement Programme results for the 2015/16 academic year shows a steep increase in the proportion of Bolton’s children who are obese in school reception classes, a much steeper rise that experienced in other areas.

“These had been a reduction in obesity in this age group in 2014/15, but these new results show a return to the 2013/2014 level, which at 9.6 per cent is now higher than the England average.”

It added: “At year six the proportion who are obese has also increased but the rate of increase is more moderate and more closely reflects national and regional trends.”

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “We are doing everything we can to combat childhood obesity against a backdrop of cuts to public health services.

“Whilst the most recent statistics do show an increase we remain committed to tackling obesity in Bolton.

“Childhood obesity is a national problem, and locally we work closely with a number of partner organisations to deliver initiatives which are aimed at raising awareness of the health risks of obesity.

“We start at an early age and encourage families to make healthier choices such as breast feeding and healthy toddler clubs.

“We also provide subsidised, nutritionally balanced school meals across the borough and most schools in Bolton deliver the council’s Healthy Schools Initiative encouraging healthy eating.

“As part of this, the council’s cabinet has also allocated £500,000 for free breakfast clubs benefitting hundreds of school children.”

Public health officials did warn that fluctuations can be caused by changes in numbers of children being measured.

Previously Cllr Linda Thomas, deputy leader of the council, has called for ‘decisive action’ to be taken or the pressure on the NHS and people’s health would be devastating.

Speaking following the release of the Health Committee’s report on childhood obesity in March she said: “Councils however can only do so much, which is why we have been campaigning hard for tough measures to be introduced by government.”

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) annually measures the height and weight of more than one million children in England.

Children are ranked by their body mass index with those in the highest five per cent classed as ‘obese’.

The NCMP also found that children living in the most deprived areas were at the highest risk of obesity.

The data is designed to help council identify pockets of high obesity within their area and helping to plan and deliver services.

Last year the Conservative government launched its Childhood Obesity Plan in a bid to reduce the rate of obesity in youngsters over the next 10 years.

The plan included proposals to persuade the food industry to cut the amount of sugar in its products, while also encouraging children to eat more healthily and stay active.

But the Tory party has been criticised for its approach in light of the worrying figures for Bolton.

Frank Harasiwka, a Liberal Democrat campaigner, said: “The failure of Conservatives to properly tackle childhood obesity is carelessly risking the lives of 2058 children throughout Bolton.

“We cannot allow another five years to go by without proper steps being taken to address this problem. Liberal Democrats know it is time to get tough on advertisers and food manufacturers, to protect the future of kids in Bolton.

“The Liberal Democrats are the only real opposition to this hard right Conservative government. It’s time for genuine change, not more lip-service.”

But a spokesperson for the Conservatives defended the party’s record.

They said: “We have protected and increased the NHS budget and got thousands more staff in hospitals. Conservatives have always believed the NHS is something to be valued,

protected and improved, and the NHS should be free at the point of use, based on need and not the ability to pay.

We continue to support the NHS with their own plan to deliver better care and meet rising demand.”