NEARLY one in every five year-six pupils is obese in Kirklees.

A study showed that across the UK obesity levels have risen in primary school children who are aged 10 and 11.

In Kirklees they have risen from 18.4% to 19.1% in just one year – which is marginally above the 19% national average.

However, the report indicated that the number of children in Kirklees who are categorised as ‘overweight’ has fallen from 14.7% to 13.1%.

There has been a rise in both the number of underweight and overweight children in Reception classes while the number of obese children in the same year has remained unchanged at 8.8% – which is well below the national average of 9.6%.

The National Child Measurement Programme measures the height and weight of children aged four to five and children aged 10 to 11.

Chief executive of the NHS Information Centre Tim Straughan said: “More than one million children in England are measured as part of the NCMP which shows nationally that while the proportion of four to five-year-olds who are obese has fallen, the opposite has happened among 10 and 11-year-olds.

“This means that while fewer than one in 10 children in Reception Year are obese, for children in their final year of primary school this is nearly one in every five.”

The number of healthy weight year six pupils has risen 1.1% to 65.8% which compares with 65.4% in Calderdale and 67.4% in Wakefield.