THE North-East is one of the worst region's in the country for childhood obesity, new figures have shown, whilst national levels of severe obesity among Year Six children have hit a record high.

Data from the National Child Measurement Programme, overseen by Public Health England, shows 4.2 per cent of 10 and 11-year-olds in England were defined as severely obese last year.

At six per cent. Darlington had the highest level of severely obese 10 and 11-year olds in the North-East, alongside Sunderland and Newcastle.

Only North Tyneside at 4.1 per cent was below the national average.

Hartlepool's figure was 5.6 per cent, Middlesbrough 5.5 percent and County Durham 5.4 per cent.

However, when it came to severely obese reception children, Darlington had the lowest figure in the region at 1.8 per cent.

Middlesbrough was the highest at 3.4 per cent, whilst County Durham was 2.8 per cent, the same as the national average.

The prevalence of severe obesity among Year Six pupils has increased by more than a third, from 3.2 per cent, when the data was first collected in 2006/07.

One in five Year Six children were either obese or severely obese last year as they prepared to leave primary school.

The report states: "In general, obesity prevalence was highest in London, West Midlands and North East.

"It was lowest in the South West, South East and East of England."

Cllr Andrew Scott, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for the health and partnerships, said: “There has been a welcome reduction in those children who are overweight and obese at both Reception and Year 6 in Darlington. This reflects the work being done by all partners in addressing the underlying factors of what is a very complex issue.

“The data does show however there is still a worrying trend in a small proportion of children who are categorised as severely obese in Year 6, with 67 children being recorded as such in 2017/18.

“There has been specific work to understand what might be driving this increase. The new Childhood Healthy Weight plan for Darlington sets out key actions to make healthier choices easier and support services to increase the number of children in Darlington leaving primary school at a healthy weight.”

Public Health Minister Steve Brine said: "Obesity is a problem that has been decades in the making - one that will take significant effort across government, schools, families and wider society to address.

"We cannot expect to see a reversal in trends overnight - but we have been clear that we are willing to do whatever it takes to keep children healthy and well in this country.