Greenwich council have said they have a “concerted, multi-faceted campaign” to tackle childhood obesity after figures showed more children in the borough are overweight compared to the nationwide average.

The number of Year 6 children in Greenwich that are overweight or obese is over ten per cent higher than the national average.

At the Children and Young People scrutiny panel of Greenwich council, it was revealed that across Greenwich, the number of children in Year 6 who are overweight or obese is 43.9 per cent.

This number has jumped from below 40 per cent the previous year in Greenwich.

This is compared to 38.1 per cent of children in Year 6 across London, or only 34.2 per cent nationwide.

Figures for Greenwich children in reception were similarly above national and London average.

27 per cent of children in reception in Greenwich are overweight or obese, up from 26.3 per cent in 2015/16. The national average is 22.1 per cent.

A spokesperson from Greenwich council said: “The Royal Borough of Greenwich has a concerted, multi-faceted campaign to tackle childhood obesity.

“We were one of the first London boroughs to launch a Jamie Oliver endorsed Sugar Smart Campaign partnering with schools, businesses, and hospitals to reduce the sugar content in the products they offer. “

“Supporting local people, especially children, to become physically active is one of our highest priorities in the Greenwich Health and Well Being Strategy and we run all-year programmes offering a wide range of sports and physical activities– many of them for free.

“We also provide year-round support to local families including free community cookery clubs which are held throughout the borough to help residents learn how to cook tasty, healthy meals on a budget.

“Childhood obesity is a national and indeed global problem; its causes are many and complex but, as a council, we are doing all we can to tackle it and support our young people to live active, healthy lives.”