ONE in three children are now either overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, new figures show.

Figures by Public Health England’s National Child Measurement Programme (PHE) revealed a rise in eleven-year-olds carrying excess pounds across East Lancashire.

Some 33.8 per cent of children in Blackburn with Darwen CCG area had excess weight at the end of year six in school between 2014/15 and 2016/17, compared to 31.83 per cent in 2010/11 to 2012/13.

East Lancashire CCG area also saw an increase at 32.83 per cent in 2010/11 to 2012/13, compared to 34.63 per cent in 2014/15 to 2016/17.

In Blackburn, the Wensley Fold ward was revealed to have the biggest weight problem, with 37.2 per cent of year six pupils being obese and overweight last year.

David Wrigley, Lancashire's rep on the British Medical Association, said obesity was an 'increasing problem'

He said: "It tends to come down to issues outside the NHS.

"Foods with a high amount of fat and sugar in them are a factor and we need to encourage people to exercise more and use sports facilities and raise awareness and educate people on health eating."

Dominic Harrison, the borough council’s director of public health, said one of its priorities is to work with schools and young people to encourage them to make ‘healthier choices.’

This includes increasing children’s physical activity and becoming healthy adults, so they are ‘not faced with long-term health issues’ that are linked to obesity such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

He said: ‘Obesity is a national and local public health issue and the causes are complex.

“ It is an issue for Pennine Lancashire as many of our neighbourhoods are the most deprived in the country.

“A great deal is being done to tackle the issue across all health, local authority and third sector partners who are all signed up to ‘Together a Healthier Future’ which includes Blackburn with Darwen’s multi-agency ‘Eat Well, Move More, Shape Up’ strategy. "