More than one in four children finishing primary school in Dartford are classified as obese, new data has revealed.

Statistics from Public Health England show that 22 per cent of Year 6 pupils were declared obese, between April 2016 and March 2017, and 5 per cent severely obese.

The number of obese 10 and 11-year-olds in Year 6 has risen by 34 per cent over the last five years, despite school meals getting healthier.

The figures are from Public Health England's National Child Measurement Programme.

Each year it measures the height and weight of more than one million children, aged between four and five and 10 and 11, to assess childhood obesity.

The statistics show that wealth has a significant impact on obesity. Prevalence among the most deprived Year 6 pupils, which was measured over four years, is at 24 per cent, while amongst the most affluent it is 18%.

The government works out obesity using the 1990 British growth reference chart, a large collection of statistics which work out a child's body mass index (BMI).

It defines a child as obese if its BMI is in the top 5 per cent, and overweight if they are in the top 15 per cent.

Children's BMI is measured differently to adults, and is calculated using age and gender as well as height and weight.

Obesity can lead to heart problems and type 2 diabetes later in life, as well as psychological issues such as low self esteem and depression.

The data consistently shows that children develop weight problems while at primary school.

Last financial year 169 of Dartford's Reception children were declared obese, while over the same time period 262 in Year 6 hit the same unhealthy weight.

The obesity rate for 10 to 11-year-olds is almost double that of four to five-year-olds.

Caroline Cerny, lead for the Obesity Health Alliance, said: "These latest figures show childhood obesity has risen over the last two years, with more children overweight or obese when they leave primary school than when they start.

"Children with obesity are five times more likely to become obese adults, putting them at risk of a number of devastating conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart and liver disease.

"We've seen a certain amount of progress from government, including the implementation of the soft drinks levy from April this year. But far more needs to be done."