Latest figures from ISD this week show that 1 in 10 Borders children are clinically overweight.
Rachael Hamilton MSP is calling on the SNP Government to encourage greater participation in sport and for more children to participate in cookery courses to help educate them on how to make healthier meals.
Whilst the percentage of overweight children has risen over the past decade, there was a slight fall on last year. Most worryingly, the percentage of severely obese children rose from last year, from 1.8% to 2.0%.
The statistics are derived from height and weight measurements recorded at routine health reviews or selective medicals for children in Primary 1 for NHS Boards in Scotland, which participate in the Child Health Systems Programme School system (CHSP School).
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Rachael Hamilton said:
“These figures show a worrying trend in the number of overweight and obese children across the Borders.
“Access to healthy food choices and physical exercise as well as parents and guardians being given advice and support to help address child weight issues are all crucial to tackling childhood obesity.
“The Scottish Conservatives urge the SNP Government to spend sugar tax levy money on encouraging children to develop an active lifestyle. Whether that’s through more school sport or via breakfast clubs, there’s more that can be done to ensure that we crack down early on the obesity epidemic and stop the cycle of poor health in Scotland.
“Personally, I want to see more opportunities for children to learn to cook properly, so that they can cook up a healthy and balanced meal that is not only tasty, but good for them. These habits are then passed on from generation to generation.
“Obesity can have major health implications for children in later life and children need to be given all the support that they need to be a healthy weight.”