Authroties need to do more in the region to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity, according to new public health guidelines for England.
Birmingham is one of the worst performing regions in the UK, with one in four school children at Year Six age classified as obese last year.
Now the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is calling for local authorities to do more to help families tackle the time-bomb of obesity in children and young people.
Children who are overweight or obese should be encouraged to keep a food-and-activity diary, take up regular active hobbies and watch less TV, says the new guidance.
Professor Mike Kelly, Director of Public Health at NICE, said: “Local commissioners, including local authorities, need to make sure that the right services are available when families need them.”
“Being overweight or obese has a significant impact on a child’s quality of life. It can affect their self-esteem and they are more likely to be bullied or stigmatised.
“Parents should not have to face the challenge of obesity on their own. We are recommending family-based lifestyle programmes are provided giving tailored advice.
But local authorities representatives have insisted that tackling childhood obesity in Birmingham remains a top priority.
Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Steve Bedser, said: “The statistic of one in four ten-year-olds being obese is the single scariest thing I know about Birmingham.
“We took on responsibility for public health in April and it has been clear from day one that childhood obesity is an absolute priority in this city.
“There are already good examples of work that has been done in Birmingham but we’re now looking to work on a much larger scale, supporting families to help them make the right choices for their children.”
