1 in 5 primary one children in Scotland overweight

MORE than one in five primary one children in Scotland are overweight, newly released official figures revealed today.

The figure recording 21.4 per cent of P1 pupils as overweight, included 9.6 per cent who are obese and 5.5 per cent severely obese.

A total of 41,019 children - 74 per cent of primary one pupils - had their height and weight measurements recorded during 2010-11 for the survey.

The results for 2010-11 were similar to those of in 200-10, when 21.5 per cent of primary one children were found to be overweight, including 9.5 per cent obese and 5.4 per cent severely obese.

Over the last decade, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has remained at a similar level of around one in five children in p 1, the figures showed.

A report on the survey said: “There is continued concern over the levels of obesity among children in Scotland. Obesity during childhood is a health concern in itself, but can also lead to physical and mental health problems in later life, such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, back pain, increased risk of cancer, low self-esteem and depression.”