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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Many starting school 'overweight' | Many starting school 'overweight' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| More than one in five children in England start their school life overweight or obese, NHS figures show. | More than one in five children in England start their school life overweight or obese, NHS figures show. |
| What is more, by the end of primary school the rate rises to nearly one in three, the government's child measurement programme showed. | What is more, by the end of primary school the rate rises to nearly one in three, the government's child measurement programme showed. |
| Obesity levels were higher in London, the North East and West Midlands than elsewhere in 2008-9. | Obesity levels were higher in London, the North East and West Midlands than elsewhere in 2008-9. |
| But the NHS Information Centre said there were no significant changes in the results from last year. | But the NHS Information Centre said there were no significant changes in the results from last year. |
| NHS chiefs warned the true levels of obesity were likely to be a little higher as the parents of overweight children were more likely to opt out of the voluntary programme. | NHS chiefs warned the true levels of obesity were likely to be a little higher as the parents of overweight children were more likely to opt out of the voluntary programme. |
| In total, more than 1m children took part, 90% of the age groups. | In total, more than 1m children took part, 90% of the age groups. |
| Future health | Future health |
| It comes after figures released earlier this year suggested childhood obesity may be levelling off. | It comes after figures released earlier this year suggested childhood obesity may be levelling off. |
| However, the data on which that was based comes from a different source which has figures going much further back than the child measurement programme. | However, the data on which that was based comes from a different source which has figures going much further back than the child measurement programme. |
| The schools data showed more boys than girls were overweight in both reception and year six. | The schools data showed more boys than girls were overweight in both reception and year six. |
| Some 24% of boys aged four to five were overweight or obese, while 21.5% of girls were. | Some 24% of boys aged four to five were overweight or obese, while 21.5% of girls were. |
| In the 10 to 11-year-old age group, 34.5% of boys and 30.7% of girls weighed too much. | In the 10 to 11-year-old age group, 34.5% of boys and 30.7% of girls weighed too much. |
| NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: "These findings highlight the scale of obesity among some of our young children - something which may affect their future health." | NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: "These findings highlight the scale of obesity among some of our young children - something which may affect their future health." |
| Public health minister, Gillian Merron, said evidence is stacking up to suggest that child obesity is "levelling off". | |
| "It's important to monitor children's weight and wellbeing, and I'm glad that we achieved a 90% take up of the scheme. | |
| "But we need to keep the momentum going. | |
| "We'll only turn the tide on obesity for good if everyone plays their part." |