CHILDREN born in Hounslow today could have a shorter life expectancy than their parents due to spiralling obesity rates.
An NHS report is warning that 39% of Hounslow's 11-year-olds are overweight – compared with 33% nationally – and in some areas of the borough the problem is much worse.
A report presented to Hounslow councillors last week highlighted Hanworth, Feltham North, Hanworth Park, Bedfont and Isleworth as having the fattest schoolchildren but warned there was 'a significant problem' borough-wide.
Obesity, which contributes to serious, chronic and fatal medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, costs NHS Hounslow £61m a year and that figure is expected to increase massively as predictions suggest 55% of Hounslow residents could be obese by 2050.
David Cahill, chairman of the Hounslow branch of Diabetes UK, called the figures 'frightening' but said he was not sure if anyone had the answers.
“ In the long run these kids are going to develop serious health problems. It's a time bomb waiting to explode but I am not sure what we can do and I am not sure the government knows what it can do,” he said.
The problem with obesity starts at a young age in Hounslow. 24% of reception age children are overweight or obese, compared with the national average of 23%.
In a bid to tackle the problem, the NHS has commissioned a childhood obesity centre at Feltham Health Centre to treat the worst affected children.
