HBL: Parents could be told if child is overweight

Parents in England and Wales could soon be warned if their children are overweight, according to new government proposals.

Youngsters are currently measured at the ages of five and ten but parents are only given the results if they ask for them. Under the new plans, designed to ensure child health, parents would be given the results automatically.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "Tackling child obesity is a government priority and the weighing and measuring programme is an important element of this. The programme is a vital part of engaging children and families about healthy lifestyles and weight issues.

"We need to take this further and help parents to understand the importance of healthy weight for their families and support them to make lifestyle changes."

Obesity is a rising global health problem and, in England, between a quarter and a third of children are considered to be overweight.

A report last week by government health think-tank Foresight warned that more than half of all Britons will be obese by 2050 if weight gain continues at its current rate.

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