BOROUGH chiefs say they will not rest on their laurels despite east Cheshire having the north west’s lowest rate of childhood obesity.

Figures released by Public Health England show that 7.3 per cent of four to five-year-olds and 15.4 per cent of 10 to 11-year-olds were obese in the borough in 2016-17.

Those figures fall well below the north west average of 10.3 per cent for four to five-year-olds, and 20.8 per cent for 10 to 11-year-olds – as well as the national average of 9.6 per cent for four to five-year-olds, and 20 per cent for 10 to 11-year-olds.

Cllr Jos Saunders, cabinet member for children and families at Cheshire East Council, said: “Naturally, I am delighted to see that there is a trend towards a reduction in the levels of childhood obesity since 2012 in the borough, though we know there is still a lot of work to do.

“We know that good habits adopted early in life have a long-lasting impact and we want to equip our children with the skills and knowledge to understand and implement these good habits.”

The new data shows that the level of obesity for 10 to 11-year-olds has fallen by 0.5 per cent since 2015-16, although it rose by 0.2 per cent for four to five-year-olds during that time.

Neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester also performed well in 2016-17 – where 8.3 per cent of four to five-year-olds and 18.8 per cent of 10 to 11-year-olds were obese.

Cllr Saunders added: “Working with our health partners, CEC has created a service for young people, aged 0 to 19, which sees health visitors located in children’s centres. School nurses will also be available all year round now, rather than just in term time.

“The national emphasis on sugar reduction is helping to make people more aware generally of the connection between sugar intake and obesity. Although this scheme won’t make an overnight success of tackling childhood obesity, it will give schools more targeted support.

“This will help the council – and the schools themselves of course – to get a clear insight into where our efforts should be targeted.”

Knowsley, in Merseyside, had the highest rates of childhood obesity for 2016-17 – with 12.7 per cent of four to five-year-olds and 26.7 per cent of 10 to 11-year-olds being obese.