NEARLY one in ten children in Southampton is clinically obese when they start primary school, new figures reveal.

Health bosses have warned that these youngsters are so overweight that they are putting their lives at risk.

They are also far more likely to suffer from heart disease, diabetes, strokes and cancer in later life.

To make matters worse, the city’s children also do less physical activity at school compared to the national average, according to latest Department of Health figures.

Only 84 per cent of five to 16-year-olds were found to spend at least two hours on PE and school sport every week, compared to a national average of 90 per cent.

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Meanwhile across the rest of Hampshire overall obesity levels are lower with 8.3 per cent of children in reception year classed as dangerously overweight – compared to 9.3 per cent in Southampton and a national average of 9.6 per cent.

However, there are local variations with Eastleigh having one of the highest childhood obesity rates (9.2 per cent) and the New Forest (8.0 per cent) the lowest in the county. Overall Hampshire children do more physical activity than the national average.

The latest figures come after it was revealed earlier this year that nearly one in five ten-year-olds in Southampton were clinically obese.

Some 18.6 per cent of year six children were found to be so overweight that it could threaten their life while across Hampshire the figure was 15.9 per cent.

Among adults the picture is not much better with Southampton health chiefs estimating that more than one in four adults are obese (26 per cent), while the figure in Hampshire is nearly one in five (19.4 per cent). The percentage of obese adults across England stands at 23.6 per cent.

Health experts have blamed convenience foods, the marketing of unhealthy snacks and children taking less exercise for rising obesity levels.

Christine Jackson, pictured, acting director of public health for NHS Hampshire said reducing obesity was one of the organisation’s “main priorities” by encouraging healthy eating and increasing physical activity.

Jenny Davies, Southampton’s public health nutritionist said: “Work is being done to make being more active and eating well easier for children, families and adults alike including helping those who already have a weight problem to lose and maintain weight loss.

“Prevention is important and the earlier we establish good habits the better.”