ONE in eight four- and five-year-olds in Gwent is obese, shock new figures reveal.

Public Health Wales’ child measurement programme shows that more than a quarter of children in this age group in the area are either overweight or obese.

The first report for what is now an annual programme recording the weight of reception children in schools across Wales paints a worrying picture of obesity and excess weight among younger children, not only in Gwent but across Wales.

But the burden is heavier in areas of higher deprivation, which means that Valleys communities are hit particularly hard.

Overall in Gwent, 12.5 per cent of four/five-year-olds measured as obese in terms of their Body Mass Index (BMI), but in Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen that figure rose to 14 per cent, closer to one-inseven.

The prevalence of overweight and obese children in Wales, at 28 per cent, is well above that in England (23 per cent) and higher than any individual English region.

“This is the first time we have had a clear picture of the how children in Wales are growing, and, although the headline figures are worrying, this is something that can be reversed,” said Dr Ciarán Humphreys, consultant in public health for Public Health Wales.

“We must have a response from all sectors in society including health, education and local communities themselves to ensure our children are able to adopt healthy lifestyles.

“This can be anything from making our communities more pedestrian and bicycle friendly to reducing access to unhealthy fast food near schools.

“As with most health risks, the sooner they are tackled the easier they are to address and the greater the long-term benefits.

“On an individual level, programmes such as Change4Life, which aims to help us all, but especially our kids, eat well, move more and live longer and provides tips and ideas to support parents who wish to make healthy lifestyle choices for their families.

“Encouraging healthy eating and regular exercise at a young age provides children with an excellent start and helps them grow up to be healthy adults.”

The statistics broken down

THE percentage of four- and five-year-olds in Gwent council areas classed as overweight and obese by BMI are:

Newport

Overweight boys: 15 per cent;
Overweight girls: 16 per cent;
Obese boys: 14 per cent;
Obese girls: 11 per cent.

Torfaen

Overweight boys: 17 per cent;
Overweight girls: 15 per cent;
Obese boys: 12 per cent;
Obese girls, 16 per cent.

Blaenau Gwent

Overweight boys: 16 per cent;
Overweight girls: ten per cent;
Obese boys: 15 per cent;
Obese girls: 13 per cent.

Caerphilly

Overweight boys: 17 per cent;
Overweight girls: 15 per cent;
Obese boys: 13 per cent;
Obese girls: 13 per cent.

Monmouthshire

Overweight boys: 14 per cent;
Overweight girls: 12 per cent;
Obese boys: seven per cent;
Obese girls: 11 per cent.

ARGUS COMMENT: Action now not later

THE numbers of children classified as overweight, or obese, in Wales is shocking.

And, unless this is an issue which is tackled with some urgency, we are building up a whole host of problems for the future.

What is especially worrying is the number of children as young as four or five who are overweight.

According to Public Health Wales, as many as one in eight children in this age range is obese.

That is a lot of children not eating the correct foods and/ or not getting sufficient exercise.

The blame for that has to be laid at the door of parents.

We realise this is a complex issue, with all sorts of factors such as deprivation having an impact. But children that young are not making choices about what they eat, they rely on their parents to make those choices for them.

If poverty is an issue then that is something the National Assembly needs to tackle head on.

If it is down to ignorance then again what is needed is targeted education programmes.

But our concern is that this is a problem which has not suddenly reared its head but is one which seems to be getting worse not better despite countless government programmes.

Consultant in public health for Wales Dr Ciaran Humphreys suggests a rounded approach involving health, education and local communities themselves in encouraging healthy lifestyles.

He is probably right but it needs to happen sooner rather than later.