SENIOR councillors have been told that childhood obesity in a borough has reached alarming levels.

Cllr Bernadette Parkinson gave the warning as Hyndburn Council cabinet officially adopted an action plan to tackle the problem.

It supported a national Healthy Weight Declaration already backed by Lancashire County, Blackburn with Darwen and Pendle Councils.

Cllr Parkinson presented the meeting on Wednesday with a report from the borough's Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee of which she is vice chair.

She said: "Obesity is increasing, with a rise in obesity prevalence in the UK from 15 per cent in 1993 to 29 per cent in 2017.

"Nearly two thirds of adults in England are overweight or obese .

" Locally, healthy weight is a growing concern in Hyndburn.

"The prevalence of childhood obesity in Hyndburn is greater than the national average, with 22.8 per cent of children aged 10 to 11 in the district classified as obese.

"This is the highest prevalence across Pennine Lancashire.

"Hyndburn is one of the 10 per cent most deprived districts authorities in England which is significantly associated with overweight and obesity.

"Furthermore, about 19 per cent of children (3,300) live-in low-income families which is also a risk factor for poor health outcomes.

"Physical inactivity directly contributes to one in six deaths, around a quarter of the population is inactive and 45 per cent of women and 33 per cent of men are not active enough to benefit their health.

"There is no single cause of overweight and obesity, it is down to a multitude of factors, including (but not limited to) access to healthy food; proximity to fast food outlets; advertising and marketing of unhealthy food and drink; and opportunities for physical activity.

"Therefore, healthy weight needs to be ‘everybody’s business,’ and all local government departments have a role to play.

"Having strong support across portfolios and wards can help to drive change."

The Cabinet resolved to promote healthy weight messages through its social media channels; maintain a restriction zone of 400 metres radius around all schools where planning applications for new hot food takeaways will be refused and use planning policy to support health and wellbeing and encourage physical activity and active travel.

It also committed to work with partners, notably Hyndburn Leisure, to encourage residents to be physically active.

The move was backed by Tory group deputy leader Cllr Peter Britcliffe who said: "This is all about education.

"Babies that eat healthily group to be adults who eat healthily."