Southwark’s childhood obesity problems are getting worse, with the latest obesity statistics showing an increase in obese children in the borough.

This comes as The Local Government Authority (LGA), which represents 370 councils in England and Wales, warns severe child obesity rates are contributing to a “multi-billion pound ill-health time bomb.”

The authority has called for councils to be given powers to ban junk food advertising near schools and for a say on better labelling on food and drink products.

The data for 2016/17, supplied by the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), revealed 26.3 per cent of children in the borough were overweight, with 13.3 per cent of those also classed as obese.

This is a 1.1 per cent increase on the previous year and higher than the London child obesity average of 10.3 per cent, and the England child obesity average of 9.6 per cent.

Children from low-income families were more likely to be obese, particularly in communities in Walworth, Rotherhithe and Peckham.

Southwark Council statistics show the borough had the most overweight year 6 aged children in 2014/15 , with 42.7 per cent classed as obese –  5.5 per cent higher than the London average and 9.5 per cent higher than the England average.

Cllr Evelyn Akoto, Cabinet member for community safety and public health, said: “Southwark Council recognises that childhood obesity is an on-going and long term health issue, both in our borough and across the country, with no easy or single solution."

She said the council had a range of programmes in place to tackle childhood obesity, including healthy school meals, assessing pupil weight at year 6, and commissioning a weight-loss programme for overweight children.

Southwark Council also has a free fruit scheme offered to children aged 7 to 11 in all schools in the borough.

The council, alongside health partners, also provided “healthy weight training” for all professionals working with children “to give them the confidence to raise the issue of weight in an appropriate manner” with overweight students.

Severe obesity causes a raft of health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Those who identify as Black African, Black Caribbean and mixed race have been found to be at a higher risk of obesity, as well as those with a limiting illness or disability.