According to research from the London Assembly, the bill for dealing with overweight children could reach almost £111m annually if today’s youngsters remain obese into adulthood.
Rates of childhood obesity are higher in London than any other English region. Across the capital, one in five youngsters is obese, although rates vary widely between boroughs — 12 per cent of children in Richmond are currently classified as obese, compared to 28 per cent in Westminster.
The Tipping the Scales research, published by the assembly’s health and public services committee, calls on London mayor Boris Johnson to better coordinate efforts to tackle childhood obesity.
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