CHESHIRE East has gone against the national trend, with the lowest numbers of child obesity in the North West.

The council commissioned a range of public health services including a free 12-week course ran by EveryBody Sport and Recreation for families with children aged four to 18.

As well as advice on exercise the course also offered tips on nutrition such as portion control, food labelling and support from experts.

The council came up with the plans after findings from the National Child Measurement Programme.

The programme saw experts measuring the height and weight of over one-million children aged four to five and 10-11 in primary schools in England, with the findings used to understand the patterns and trends in underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity.

In Cheshire East, the findings from the NCMP found that the youngsters across the region tend to be healthier than in other areas.

Overall, all of the programme indicators for children in Cheshire East are positive and compared to children across the region; the proportion of children at risk of ill health due to being underweight or overweight is decreasing.

Cheshire East Cllr Jos Saunders, cabinet member for children and families, said: “We recognise that many local authorities have an increasing percentage of children who are either overweight or obese.

“Whilst we too have to overcome the challenge of any child being overweight, the trend for children in Cheshire East classed as overweight is decreasing.

“Our most recent figures from 2017 shows that the authority has the lowest prevalence of obese children in the north west and is placed in the best quintile nationally.”

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