Study finds a third overweight

Figures collected for the National Child Measurement Programme show a third of year six children in Kirklees are overweight or obese.

School nursing teams from Locala Community Partnerships saw 5,168 reception class pupils and 4,308 year six pupils in 2011/12. They found 22.5 per cent of reception pupils were overweight or obese, compared to 22.6 per cent nationally.

And 33.6 per cent of year six children were overweight or obese, compared to 33.9 per cent nationally.

Sessions for 2012/13 began this month, including sight and hearing tests for reception pupils. Locala’s Doreen Oakley urged parents to complete the health screening consent forms sent out.

She said: “If we know a child is above a healthy weight at a young age we can help their family introduce healthier lifestyle choices. The results also help us plan children’s health services.”