One in five Redbridge Year 6 students obese, data reveals

The borough’s rates of childhood obesity among 10 and 11-year-olds have been above the London average for the past six years.

By the age of 15, only 14 per cent of Redbridge students do an hour of physical activity a day, according to the council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2017-2021.

A report presented to the Health and Wellbeing board on March 2 states the council is developing a “whole systems approach” with partners in public, private and third sectors.

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It references both guidance from Public Health England and the “call to action” from the London Obesity Taskforce, which recommends steps like encouraging mothers to breastfeed longer and advertising restrictions on unhealthy foods.

It also noted that excess weight among four and five-year-olds in Redbridge “has been steadily declining over the last 3 years” and dropped below the London average last year.

Another key challenge for the council is high rates of diabetes, for which obesity can be a risk factor.

Redbridge has the second highest rate of diabetes in London after Harrow, with 9 per cent of residents suffering, equivalent to around 21,000 people.

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