Keighley children

Almost a quarter of 10 and 11-year-olds living in the area — which includes Highfield, Lawkholme and Knowle Park — are obese or overweight, it has been revealed.

The shocking figure — based on a three-year average — has come to light as letters are sent out to parents of around 7,000 youngsters district-wide informing them which of four categories their children fall into, from underweight to very overweight. School nurses weigh and measure all children when they start school in reception at the age of four or five and again at the age of 10 and 11. This is the fourth year that NHS Bradford and Airedale has carried out the measurements.

Health chiefs said it was difficult to evaluate accurate trends from the figures until there was at least four years’ data, but early indications suggested that areas with high obesity rates were linked to those with high levels of deprivation.

NHS Bradford and Airedale added that it had begun using the information to plan services to help families stay healthy.

And several initiatives are already being run in the Keighley area, by the so-called Options team, as part of Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services. These include health and exercise sessions, some held at the Highfield Centre.

A programme for children and their families, to encourage youngsters to achieve and maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle, was staged at Holy Family School, in Keighley, this year and Bradford Council is offering schemes as part of its b-active campaign.

Dr Shirley Brierley, public health consultant for Bradford and Airedale, said: “Obesity is a major public health issue nationally and Bradford district is no exception. Our aim is to provide families with a wide choice of support and initiatives that will meet their individual needs, such as summer camps and free community courses.

“Children of a healthy weight are more likely to grow into healthy adults. It is important for parents and carers to help their children to eat a well balanced diet and be physically active to make sure they grow healthily.

"The BMI tool is not perfect, but it produces accurate results for almost all children and is one of the best ways to tell if a child is a healthy weight.

"Whilst the data shows some encouraging emerging trends at reception age, it is important that we continue to collect the data and analyse it so we can continue to plan services to help families stay healthy.

"This isn’t about pointing the finger and telling parents that their children are overweight, instead it’s about equipping parents with the information they need to help their children live healthier lives.

"The evidence shows that there are many obese children in every part of the city - not just a few isolated areas - and that picture is quite complex as there are some underweight children as well."

The latest figures – for 2008-09 - show that across the district as a whole, child obesity levels are starting to fall. Twenty-one per cent of children aged four and five and 30 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds are overweight or obese, compared to 23 per cent and 35 per cent respectively the previous year.

Children who are overweight are more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The letters being sent to parents will include tips on how to eat well and be active.

Parents who need more advice about their child’s weight - and what to do about the results - should contact their school nurse.

The new Change4Life campaign includes information about how to help families eat better, move more and live longer - for details visit nhsuk/change4life.

People can also contact the Options team on 01274 202802.