NEARLY five per cent of all 10 and 11-year-olds in Blackburn with Darwen are classed as severely obese, new statistics reveal.

The figures, released by the Local Government Association (LGA), warn that severe obesity rates, which have been published for the first time, are contributing to a ‘multi-billion pound ill-health time bomb. ‘

The data shows in Blackburn, 4.86 per cent of all year six pupils in the final year of school are classed as severely obese.

In Hyndburn, 4.71 per cent of the same age group are considered severely obese while in Burnley it is 4.48 per cent, Rossendale 4.35 per cent, Pendle 4.24 per cent and in Ribble Valley it is 1.43 per cent.

The research has also found 35.6 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds in Blackburn with Darwen are classed as overweight or obese.

Other local authority areas in East Lancashire fare even worse, with 39.3 per cent of year six students in Hyndburn classed as overweight or obese. The figure in Pendle is 36.5 per cent, followed by Burnley with 34.3 per cent, Rossendale with 32 per cent and Ribble Valley with 28.1 per cent.

In total, 22,646 children aged 10 and 11 in year 6 out of 556,452 are classed as severely obese across the UK, according to the figures, obtained as a result of the National Child Measurement Programme.

For most adults, a BMI of 40 or above means a person is severely obese – at least 60 per cent higher than the upper healthy weight BMI limit of 24.9.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said the figures were a ‘wake-up call for urgent joined-up action.’

She said: “These new figures on severely obese children, who are in the most critical overweight category, are a further worrying wake-up call for urgent joined-up action.

“The UK is already the most obese nation in western Europe, with one in three 10 and 11-year-olds and one in five four and five-year-olds classed as overweight or obese, respectively.

“Unless we tackle this obesity crisis, today’s obese children will become tomorrow’s obese adults whose years of healthy life will be shortened by a whole host of health problems including diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

“Cuts to councils’ public health grants by government are having a significant impact on the many prevention and early intervention services carried out by councils to combat child obesity.

“This short-sighted approach risks causing NHS costs to snowball due to the ill health consequences of obesity in our younger generation.

“Following the introduction of the sugar tax, we urge government to publish more details of its obesity strategy and to recognise councils’ key prevention role in tackling one of the greatest public health challenges this nation faces.”

Steve Morton, health and wellbeing manager at Public Health England North West, said: “We know that overweight and obese children are likely to be the same when they become adults. Too many children and most adults are already overweight or obese, which can cause heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

“PHE’s ongoing work to tackle obesity, including our programmes which promote physical activity and help families to make healthier choices by reducing the sugar and calories in everyday foods, can go a long way to improving our health.”