Divorce ‘increases risk of obesity in children’

latest figures reveal the proportion of obese children in reception classes in England in 2012-13 fell slightly on the previous year and was lower than in 2006.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jun 2014, 06:50 BST
Children whose parents have divorced are more likely to be obese, new research suggests.Children whose parents have divorced are more likely to be obese, new research suggests.
Children whose parents have divorced are more likely to be obese, new research suggests.

Around 18.9 per cent of 11 and 12-year-olds were obese which was also lower than the year before but higher than in 2006 when it stood at 17.5 per cent.

Nevertheless, the fall was the first since measurements were first taken in 2006 although experts caution more information is need to see if it is the start of a concerted decline.

Children from deprived areas are most likely to be obese and it is also higher in cities.

Levels of obesity in Yorkshire are broadly average for the country.

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