London Mayoral candidate promises to make public health a priority
An increasing number of children in Ealing are obese according to new figures.
Labour's candidate for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, says the data shows that the problem has increased in the borough by 11.1 per cent since 2010.
In 2010, 20.7 per cent of children aged 10-11 in Ealing were classified obese, but this risen to 23 per cent. It's the fifth biggest increase in childhood obesity in London.
Overall, London has higher rates of childhood obesity than the rest of the country and Mr Khan says it could worse as public health spending in London is set to be cut by a further £111 million in real terms over the next five years.
Sadiq Khan, Labour’s candidate for Mayor of London, said:
“Across London almost a quarter of 10-11 year olds are clinically obese and the figure is going up every year. It is particularly bad in Ealing – having increased by 11.1 per cent since 2010.
“The Government has no answer to the country’s growing obesity crisis. They have failed to deliver a lasting legacy from the Olympics, they have consistently failed to deliver health improvements, and now they are delaying the very thing they hope might address that shortfall.
“A national sugar tax could play a significant role in solving the obesity crisis and it is frustrating that the Government is ruling it out. When you also consider the drastic cuts to public health funding this could have terrible consequences for the health of Londoners. The Government needs to think again.”
We have asked the Mayor's office for comment.
1st March 2016