Almost one in three children in Hertfordshire are overweight or living with obesity by the time they start secondary school, according to data presented to county councillors.

Children in Hertfordshire are measured and weighed in their first and last years of primary school as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP).

And on Wednesday (November 14) data from the programme was included in a report presented to the county council's public health and community safety cabinet panel.

According to the data (collected in 2022/23) 18.2 per cent of Reception pupils – that's almost one in five – were found to be overweight or obese.

And the same data shows that 31.5 per cent of 10-11 year-olds in the last year of primary school were also classified as being overweight or living with obesity.

Stressing the importance of addressing childhood obesity as early as possible, the report presented to councillors stressed that "children who are not of a healthy weight are more likely to become adults who are not of a healthy weight".

It pointed to the impact of genetics, psychological, environmental, commercial and societal factors on obesity – with health inequalities said to be a key feature.

And it said a 'whole system' approach would go beyond individual and family behaviours – with the potential to create more effective and long-lasting change.

The Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Partnership (HWEICP) – which brings together representatives from the NHS and the county council – has already agreed to make childhood obesity one of its "priority areas".

And at the meeting public health officials outlined priority areas for action that are "now being worked up into specific objectives" by the HWEICP.

Those priority areas for action – according to a report presented to the meeting – include support for commercial determinants, promotion of healthy environments and organisational change/ culture shift.

In terms of commercial determinants, the report points to the potential to work with food retailers to promote healthy options, and to restrict "inappropriate food and drink marketing" in certain locations to protect children.

To promote healthy environment, it points to the potential to restrict hot food takeaways near schools and 'areas of deprivation' and to healthy food and drink advertising.

And with regard to organisational change/culture shift, the report points to making healthier food and drinks available for public and staff, promotion of water-only schools and support for active travel.

Meanwhile the report includes a number of areas of work that the Partnership could consider highlighting with government or other national agencies.

At the meeting Liberal Democrat Cllr John Hale emphasised the link between health inequality and deprivation.

Pointing to healthy food that was more expensive and harder to obtain, he suggested that in more deprived areas there may not be a supermarket, but that there would be a fish and chip shop or other take-aways.

And – despite welcoming the report "strongly" – he questioned whether the report went far enough and asked whether funding was available.

". . . I think it is scratching at the surface," he said.

"And we need to be doing a lot more as a society to tackle deprivation and to make sure we are actually dealing with the causes of the problem and not just tinkering around the symptoms."

Conservative Cllr Sunny Thusu highlighted some research that had suggested fresh fruit and veg could be cheaper in supermarkets than pre-packaged food.

And addressing the impact of deprivation executive member for public safety and community safety Cllr Morris Bright, suggested that now – following the covid pandemic – it was better understood.

"We need to do more, but I think actually we are getting better," he said.

During the debate Liberal Democrat Cllr Sandy Walkington suggested he would like to see more focus on physical activity.

"I do know that in the end the biggest driver of this is diet – and poor diet," he said.

"But I think also to try and encourage children to be more outside and doing things is something I would like to think about how we could encourage.".

In response, officers from the county council highlighted the high uptake of the Daily Mile in schools, as well as park-run, junior park-run and park play.

They also pointed to infrastructure to encourage 'active travel' around the county.

The Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Partnership is a statutory committee formed from the NHS Integrated Care Board and the Hertfordshire and Essex county councils.

It brings together partners involved in health and care to enhance services, improve population health and address the wider determinants of heath.