Kids in West Midlands town among fattest in the country - experts say one thing is to blame

One in three children in parts of the West Midlands are obese by the time they start secondary school according to shocking new figures - and experts say one thing is to blame. New NHS data released this week put Sandwell top of the list for childhood obesity rates in the country, with more than twice the levels of some neighbouring areas.

Some 31% of Year 6 pupils attending school in Sandwell were obese, while Wolverhampton ranked third on the list with 29% of children aged 10-11 currently overweight. These numbers are twice as high compared to affluent neighbouring areas like Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon and Bromsgrove.

The figures, from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), found an overall decrease in child obesity levels nationally - but rates remain sky-high in parts of the Midlands. Health experts say poverty is the main driver of child obesity in the region, and have called on national and local leaders to do more to support families to make healthier financial choices.

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Duane Mellor is a registered dietitian, science communicator and a visiting fellow at Aston University. He said it was no surprise that Sanwell and Wolverhampton topped the list of childhood obesity rates, as some of the poorest areas in the region.

When asked why rates were so high in Sandwell, he said: “It’s a combination of deprivation, access and time. If you’re trying to encourage children to eat healthily, that can lead to more food waste if children don’t like it. If you’re on a limited budget, that’s a risk.”

He continued: “Time is also a big challenge. If you’re working a number of jobs, having time to cook a healthy family meal is difficult. Access to open and green spaces is also a key factor, which is evident when you look at areas like Sandwell and Wolverhampton compared to areas with lower rates of child obesity.

“Childhood obesity increases a child's risk of type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and adults who are obese have an increased likelihood of 14 different types of cancer - wo we need to support families to lead healthier lifestyles. But we must also recognise that there are social structures which cause this problem - it’s political too.”

Sandwell Council says it has developed ‘plans’ to address high rates of childhood obesity in the area - but one local school said the issue won’t be solved ‘overnight.’ Sandwell Council’s Interim Director of Public Health Liann Brookes-Smith said: “We have known for some time that our children in Sandwell are not experiencing a full health promoting lifestyle, from health promoting foods to physical activity.

“Therefore, we have developed plans to address this and to reduce the number of underweight and overweight children, however it is a balance in how we do this. Supporting children to have a healthy view of themselves and their lifestyle not just categorising them as underweight or overweight and obese."

Lifestyle initiatives such as the Active Green Spaces Program, PlayZones, and healthy eating education are already working to bring down high rates of child poverty in the area, the council said. Local schools are also taking it upon themselves to try and combat high rates of obesity.

Thomas Daly, Associate Principal at Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust, said educators play a ‘vital role’ in helping to turn the tide against obesity. "At Shireland Collegiate Academy, we support our young people holistically,” he said.

“This means that we ensure they have a deeper understanding about the factors that impact on their physical and mental wellbeing. We encourage them to make the best decisions about their diet, exercise and leading a healthy, happy life.

"We provide a wide range of extracurricular activities focused on fitness and mental health, complemented by nutritious school meals and a comprehensive PSHE curriculum covering diet and health education. Our students also benefit from indoor and outdoor gym equipment available during breaks and lunchtimes, integrating physical activity into their daily routine. Recent funding from Active Black Country will allow us to enhance our facilities with ‘gym in a box’ resources, enriching the variety and quality of activities available to students, staff, and the wider community.”

He continued: "You will be hard pressed to find anyone in education who doesn't want to solve this issue, but it won't happen overnight. We will all continue to support initiates around childhood obesity and act quickly because we all want the best for our young people. Our approach is successfully replicated across our Trust so that more students benefit from a well-rounded approach that supports their overall health and wellbeing."