The latest NHS figures from 2023/24 has revealed that Maldon has the 3rd highest percentage of older Primary School children classified as overweight or obese in Essex. 

The worst areas in Essex for childhood obesity have been named, as the county looks to another country for tips on how to tackle the issue.

Data shows that the provenance of obesity in Essex Year Six Pupils has gone up, despite a significant drop in the numbers recorded at Reception level. 

From 2018 to 2023, there has been a 15% increase in the number of Maldon Year Six Pupils labelled as overweight or obese.

This means over a third, or 35%, of weighed children fit into this category.

Harlow topped the list of the local authority with the highest number of overweight or obese Year Six Pupils, with 39.1%, followed by Tendring at 36%, and then Maldon.

Head of Wellbeing and Public Health at Essex County Council, Adrián Coggins, said lessons can be learnt from Amsterdam, which has seen childhood obesity levels reduced through healthy food and drink, exercise and better quality sleep.

He said: "There are some early indications in Amsterdam that there's good work going on. There's not many examples yet, let's make Essex the second example."

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He added that parish councils and other community groups are "critical" to the future of public health. 

He said: "If we're thinking about behaviour change and helping people to maintain good health behaviours I can tell you as a slightly lapsed behavioural scientist the number one thing which drives continuation of the behaviour, good or bad, is social support

"So we need to across Essex but at local level, look at how we can massively increase the number of people who can support each other around healthy weight."

Nationally, one in ten children are now classified as obese in their first year of school.

The NHS spends around £6.5 billion a year on treating obesity-related ill health across all age groups in England and has introduced a range of innovative services to support children and families to improve their health.

This includes 30 specialist clinics which are seeing thousands of children aged between two and 18 who are experiencing health complications related to severe obesity.

The clinics provide support through specialist treatment and tailored care packages developed with a child's family, which could include diet plans, mental health treatment and coaching.

Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: "Our widening waistlines are costing the NHS and the economy billions of pounds as well as setting kids up for an unhealthy life.

"Children with obesity are five times as likely to live with the condition as adults, so it is vital that we take urgent action to protect children today by shifting our focus from treatment to prevention.

"That's why we're restricting junk food advertising on TV and online, limiting school children's access to fast food, and banning the sale of energy drinks to under 16s."

The National Child Measurement Programme is overseen by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and is analysed and reported by NHS England and OHID.

Article written in collaboration with the LDRS - Piers Meyler