SHOCKING new figures show almost a fifth of Swindon youngsters in Year 6 were classed as obese in the 2014/15 school year.

A report by Swindon Borough Council also says a further 14.8 per cent of children in this age group, which covers nine and ten-year-olds, are classed as overweight.

The overall number shows more than a third are classed as above a healthy weight, an increase on the previous year.

In the reception age category, 20 per cent of children are either obese or overweight, which continues a downward trend in recent years.

The report has been produced for the Health and Wellbeing Board and outlines the approaches being taken to tackle the problem.

The impacts in can have on both the child and wider society have also been outlined.

In the report, Fiona Dickens, the council’s public health programme manager, said: “Childhood obesity is a major challenge to health and wellbeing and is associated with an increased risk of premature mortality in adults, as well as poor health and development in children.

“It also impacts on mental wellbeing, including increasing the risk of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, bullying and poor educational attainment.

“The Swindon Health and Wellbeing Strategy Outcome One is that ‘Every child and young person in Swindon has a healthy start in life’ with reducing childhood obesity levels an indicator of success.”

Due to the factors which cause obesity levels in the young, a number of strategies are being taken to reduce the figures.

“Obesity is a complex problem with a range of influences and determinants which makes it difficult for people to adapt their behaviour to make changes to their diet and lifestyle,” said Fiona.

“There is no single effective solution.

“A complex interplay of factors drives this imbalance of calorie intake and calorie expenditure including individual physiology, food consumption, food environment, societal influences, individual psychology, the environment in which pupils live and individual physical activity.”

The council, along with along with the Swindon CCG, has adopted the Healthy Weight Strategy which seeks to reduce the number of youngsters with an excess weight.

A variety of schemes have been implemented which range from many of the town’s schools adopting healthy eating strategies to a greater focus on walking and cycling.

Planning strategy in new developments has been amended to limit the number of takeaways on new sites while land used for growing food is also protected.