Media Release from City of York Council Labour Group
Parents to be informed on child health
02 September 2008
Local Labour councillor Tracey Simpson-Laing today welcomed the Government's announcement that from September this year, parents of children weighed and measured at school can automatically receive their child's results. The aim of this intiaitive is to make parents more aware of the importance of healthy lifestyles, so they can help their children achieve a healthy weight.
Coun. Simpson-Laing said:
"The National Child Measurement Programme weighs and measures the height of all primary school children in reception class and Year 6 (aged 4-5 and 10-11). This year, the Government is urging Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to send results to parents, a move that I very much welcome as at present, parents have to ask for the information".
"Nationally around 40% of PCTs have said they intend to automatically contact parents in the next school year, and a further 40% are yet to decide. I hope that the York and Selby PCT will automatically send out the results, as research shows that most parents of overweight or obese children think that their child is a healthy weight.
"Many will see this as interference by the ‘nanny state', but I believe it is important to inform parents that their children are overweight. This new measure is about helping parents receive the information they may need to help their children live healthier lives".
Coun. Tracey Simpson-Laing believes that York's figures for overweight children will differ little from those reported nationally, both of which make worrying reading. Government figures for 2006/7 showed that 22.9 per cent of children in Reception year were overweight or obese, while 31.6% in year 6 were overweight.
Coun. Simpson-Laing said:
"The National Child Measurement Programme weighs and measures the height of all primary school children in reception class and Year 6 (aged 4-5 and 10-11). This year, the Government is urging Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to send results to parents, a move that I very much welcome as at present, parents have to ask for the information".
"Nationally around 40% of PCTs have said they intend to automatically contact parents in the next school year, and a further 40% are yet to decide. I hope that the York and Selby PCT will automatically send out the results, as research shows that most parents of overweight or obese children think that their child is a healthy weight.
"Many will see this as interference by the ‘nanny state', but I believe it is important to inform parents that their children are overweight. This new measure is about helping parents receive the information they may need to help their children live healthier lives".
Coun. Tracey Simpson-Laing believes that York's figures for overweight children will differ little from those reported nationally, both of which make worrying reading. Government figures for 2006/7 showed that 22.9 per cent of children in Reception year were overweight or obese, while 31.6% in year 6 were overweight.
Coun. Tracey Simpson-Laing comments:
"It is really important there is the realisation that a lot of modern, convenience food, twinned with a lack of exercise can lead to health problems in later life. If York and Selby PCT makes the correct decision to send the weight of children to their parents, it will mean these children may avoid a variety of health issues that not only affect the individual, but place a huge burdens on the NHS".
Coun. Simpson-Laing is asking the PCT to declare whether it will support the Government's call to inform parents of their children's weight before the start of the new school term.