More than one in every five boys in aged 10 or 11 and in Year 6 in Bristol and the West Country are classified as ‘obese’, the Government has announced, as the NHS launches a new series of clinics especially for children to tackle this issue. There has been a 44 per cent rise in ‘severe obesity’ rates in just the past two years, and now more than 10,000 Year 6 children in the West Country are obese.
The latest figures, which are taken from health checks done in schools with children in Year 6, are the highest since records began, and indicate increasing levels of inactivity, with the pandemic blamed as a factor.
Read next: Dramatic rescue of seagull stuck inside Bedminster Asda for 16 days
In response, the Government has revealed plans to open up an extra 10 obesity clinics across the country. Back before the pandemic, in 2019-20, a total of 8,320 Year 6 children were recorded as obese. After three years, that figure - for the children now in Year 6 - that figure has risen to 10,835, which is 22 per cent of the total number.
In announcing the extra obesity clinics specifically for children, NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said doing nothing was ‘not an option'.
“Obesity can lead to a string of serious illnesses such as cancer and diabetes – bringing a terrible human cost, and also a real pressure on the NHS,” she said. “Doing nothing now is not an option and so these new clinics, will bring together a range of experts in one place providing intensive – but sensitive – physical and mental support for thousands of young people and their families,” she added.
Patients being treated at the new clinics will get access to specialist NHS doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and dietitians, who will assess their complications, provide tailored help with diet and lifestyle changes, and deliver mental health support and coaching.
In addition to providing treatment, the clinics will also work at identifying the factors which cause obesity in children and young people by considering their mental wellbeing alongside their physical health.
Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England’s national clinical director for children and young people, said: “Living with excess weight can cause problems affecting every organ system resulting in long term complications such as early death, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, early joint replacements and mental health issues.
“These clinics’ holistic approach to treating obesity and its causes, will help children and young people in a way that respects them; and works with the specific factors of their individual situation,” he added.
“We are committed to helping as many children and young people as possible with their physical and mental health and these additional clinics are an important step in helping vulnerable children and young people live healthier and happier lives,” he said.
