One in seven children under 15 is obese

3rd January 2008, 2:16pm

The Department of Health has recently released figures in the Daily Mail newspaper showing that one in seven patients treated in hospital for obesity is under the age of 15.

The number of people of all ages admitted for obesity-related illnesses has risen by 50% in two years.

A total of almost 4,000 were treated from April 2006 to March 2007. These statistics provide more evidence of how fast food is putting the nation's health at risk.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said: "There has been a lot of literature showing that fat children are getting fatter, if they're getting fatter, they are going to be susceptible to a number of conditions, particularly diabetes."

Child obesity rates have trebled over the past 20 years, with 10% of six-year-olds and 17% of 15-year olds now considered obese.

Meanwhile adult obesity rates have nearly quadrupled over the last 25 years, making Britain the second fattest nation in the world.

Figures also show that obesity was responsible for 3,876 hospital admissions in 2006-2007 and accounted for more than 13,000 days in hospital.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said tackling childhood obesity had become a key priority for the Government, "We have made significant progress with improved physical activity levels at school, healthier school food for children, clearer food labelling and tougher restrictions on advertising foods high in fat and sugar in children."

Related Articles:

• 03 Nov 2009 - New data suggests child obesity may be levelling off

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