British kids are slimming down after Covid lockdown sent child obesity levels soaring to record levels

CHILDREN are slimming down from ­record levels of obesity in the pandemic.

The proportion found to be seriously overweight in reception class fell from 10.1 per cent in 2021/22 to 9.2 per cent last year.

It is the second lowest figure since records began in 2007 but experts say children are still too fat.

One in five was classified as overweight or obese when they started at primary school last year and more than a third were by the time they left.

John Maingay, of the British Heart Foundation, said obese children often became obese adults.

He said: “Childhood obesity rates are still far too high despite some small improvements.”

Children piled on the pounds in the pandemic when they were kept off school and could not play outdoors.

Obesity hit record levels in 2020/21 — at 14.4 per cent for those in reception and 25.5 per cent in Year Six.

The rate fell in Year Six last year but was still higher than it was before Covid.

The official stats also show children in poorer areas are more likely to be overweight while a record proportion are underweight in Year Six.