A RISE in obesity among school pupils could put them more at risk of bullying, it was claimed, after new NHS figures revealed more than a third of the county's 10 to 11-year-olds are overweight or obese.

The number of children recorded as overweight or obese rose 1.3 per cent last year to 34.1 per cent.

The number of children in reception classes recorded as overweight or obese rose 0.1 per cent to 23.4 per cent, a figure above the national average.

It means nearly one in four reception year children in Worcestershire are now overweight or obese.

There was also a stark difference between the richest and poorest in Worcestershire in 2016/17 with 39.3 per cent of Year 6 children overweight or obese in the most deprived areas, compared to 29.8 per cent in the least deprived.

In reception year, 26.5 per cent of children from most deprived were larger in comparison to 19.3 per cent in the least deprived.

Worcestershire County Council said children who were overweight or obese were more likely to suffer from poor self-esteem, bullying and tooth decay in childhood.

As adults, they could suffer from preventable illnesses including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

The council also said obesity was putting health and care systems under increasing financial strain.

The figures, from NHS Digital, show that the number of children in year 6 classes in Worcestershire was just below the national average and two per cent below the average for the West Midlands.

Councillor John Smith, cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing, said: "Childhood obesity is a concerning issue across England.

"Obesity doubles the risk of dying prematurely, with proven links to cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and tackling it while young will save lives.

"A healthy weight in childhood lays the foundations for decades of healthy life as an adult.

"This data underlines how important it is for families to talk about health and weight as part of everyday life.

"Everyone needs to play their part to help reduce levels of obesity.

"Individuals and families need to ensure that healthy weight is achieved and maintained through healthy eating and increasing exercise.

"The County Council is working with organisations across the county including the NHS, schools, councils and voluntary groups to help people achieve a healthy weight.

"Public Health England’s Change4Life campaign is also helping millions of families to make healthier choices through meal swap suggestions and the Be Food Smart app, to identify the sugar, salt and fat in food.

"It also supports schools to help them embed healthier habits into everyday school life."

David Elliott, health and wellbeing programme manager for Public Health England West Midlands, said: “These latest figures should be a wake-up call – our children need every opportunity for a healthy life and our NHS is under increasing demand.

"Childhood obesity is the challenge of a generation and more joined-up local action is needed if we are serious about giving our children the future they deserve.”