Obesity on the rise in Hackney. Pic: Environmentalhealthnews.org

More than a quarter of all children in Hackney are “overweight or obese” when they start school, according to a new health report.

The Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for Hackney and the City of London, says Hackney has one of the highest levels of childhood obesity in the country – particularly in the borough’s most deprived areas – with 26.3 per cent of school starters at the wrong end of the weight scale.

Kathryn Scott from Hackney’s Public Health team said the council was responding with a raft of initiatives designed to promote healthier living, including the “Health Heroes” project in which council departments and local healthcare providers work with schools to boost activity levels and healthy eating. So far seven schools have put on gardening clubs, a girls football tournament and a healthy eating co-op.

“The reasons for child obesity are complex,” said Scott. “What we have done at the council is bring together all of the relevant people to respond to the challenge.”

The council has launched the “Wild Walks” guide to promote walking and is currently working on a “Hackney Active Kids” guide to exercise facilities which will be available from schools ahead of the summer holidays.

Hackney’s public health experts will also be involved in the national public health campaign Change4Life during the summer holiday. In conjunction with the Walt Disney Company, this will encourage children to exercise every day.