For reception children - aged four and five - the obesity rate has risen from 9.7 to 9.9 per cent, its highest level since 2006/7. A total of 23 per cent of reception children were overweight or obese in 2019/20. Pictured: Stock imageBoys have a higher obesity prevalence than girls in both age groups, the report from the Government's National Child Measurement Programme also found. Pictured: Obesity prevalence in Reception and Year 6 children in different regions of EnglandSidonie Sakula-Barry, the World Cancer Research Fund's health promotion manager, said: 'Every year this data on children's weight is released, and every year childhood overweight and obesity has increased. 'Until we do that, obesity will remain high, increasing our children's risk of cancer in adulthood, and obesity prevalence will remain highest among children living in the most deprived areas.'

Source: The Nation October 29, 2020 15:03 UTC