Child obesity rates 'levelling off'
Levels of childhood obesity could drop by 2020, research has suggested
Levels of childhood obesity in England appear to be levelling off, new figures from the National Heart Forum (NHF) have revealed.
In a new report, the organisation has claimed that while weight issues and obesity amongst children in the country has risen significantly since the 1970s, there are signs it could now be reducing.
New forecasts predict that the proportion of overweight boys aged between two and 11 will fall 5% to 17% by 2020, while the number of those who are obese is set to drop to 13%.
The number of overweight girls is expected to fall even more dramatically from 34% to 17% and the proportion of obese girls will drop to 10%.
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Oxford University professor and chair of the NHF, Klim McPherson, said it is hoped the "promising" data will be a "sign of permanent change in obesity trends", although current trends of excess weight are "still unacceptably high".
He added that the government must "keep up the work" they are doing to tackle the issue such as its recent Change 4 Life campaign, which was launched to ensure families eat well and enjoy regular exercise.
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