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Obesity rise affects more kids in Reddish than Bramhall
Kirsty Elleray16/ 1/2008
MORE children in Reddish are obese than their peers in Bramhall, according to statistics in a childhood obesity report.
Children in reception classes and Year 6 were monitored as part of childhood obesity data for 2006/7. In Reddish North there were 17.4 percent of children ranked as obese compared to just 3.4 percent in Bramhall South.
The Stockport Primary Care Trust report says there are many factors that have led to a rise in obesity levels, including family structure, modes of transportation, home entertainment, the availability of processed junk foods and overprotection of children.
But the PCT has developed an Obesity Action Plan that will aim to change the environment into one that promotes physical activity, a healthier diet, and support individuals and families.
Director of Public Health for Stockport PCT Stephen Watkins said: "Children are now more constrained in their play - battery reared children who play in cyberspace have replaced free-range children who played in greenspace.
"The rapid increase points to the impact of the environment where calories are cheap and plentiful, whole foods are less common in the diet as a whole, and physical activity is diminishing with labour saving devices, screen-based entertainment, motorised transport and over-protection of children.
"A quarter of a century ago most children walked to school.
"Today, most children are taken to school by car, and a typical child of eight or nine will be confined to the immediate vicinity of the house and garden.
"Whilst there is no doubt that these restrictions are well-intended and loving, the fact is that they are causing far more harm than the risks they address."
Headteacher at North Reddish Junior School Colin Manning said he did not understand why there was such a difference in statistics for Reddish North and Bramhall South.
He said: "We are a healthy eating school, and we are in the process of organising a parents course on providing healthy lunch box foods.
"We also have a children’s healthy eating cookery club after school, the school council run a healthy tuck shop everyday and a long time ago we band all unhealthy snacks allowing only fruit and milk at break times.
"Our school meals are the same as that in Bramhall and parents receive the same information.
"I think in a lot of ways children are a lot more aware of healthy eating than their parents. Healthy eating and exercise is an important part of the curriculum."
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1/02/2008 at 02:38
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