The research by Public Health England shows that children with the most and least healthy lifestyles are living cheek by jowl, with just five miles between the areas with the best and worst record.
44 per cent of 11 year olds in the London borough of Brent weigh too much.
Other areas with the highest levels of excess weight include the London borough of Barking and Dagenham, Wolverhampton and Sandwell in the West Midlands, and the London borough of Westminster.
The data shows clear links between levels of deprivation and obesity. In the poorest areas, children are almost four times as likely to be classed as severely obese, the data shows.
The royal college is calling for curbs on advertising of unhealthy foods before the watershed on television, and action to limit the number of fast food outlets opening near schools.
The statistics also show boys are most likely to be classed as “severely obese” – with almost 5 per cent of boys reaching this point by the end of primary school, compared with 3.3 per cent of girls.
The report also shows significant variation between ethnic groups, with more than 9 per cent of Black Caribbean children classed as severely obese, compared with 3.4 per cent of White British children.
Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, called for an end to “buy one get one free” deals on junk foods, chocolates and fizzy drinks, limits on junk food outlets, and an end to advertising of unhealthy foods during family viewing.
“Making sure that the wider environment in which children live helps support healthy lifestyles is crucial. That means protecting children from junk food advertising, limiting promotions on unhealthy products and the food industry taking significant steps to make the food they produce healthier.”
Source of Data: Public Health England, NCMP local authority profile, January 2018 update
Source of article: Telegraph 28 JANUARY 2018 • 9:30PM