CHILDREN in the area are among the least overweight in the country new figures have revealed.


Youngsters in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead rank in the top ten local authorities with the lowest level of childhood obesity.


A report published by the National Children’s Bureau shows that the health and development of children under five varies dramatically between different parts of England.


Young children in the South East have the lowest rates of obesity, tooth decay and poor development in early childhood.


The study also found that a total of 6.8 per cent of all four to five-year-olds in the borough are obese and 17.6 per cent of five-year-olds suffer from tooth decay.


There were a total of 109 admissions of children aged up to four due to injury and 66.4 per cent of children were deemed to be achieving a good level of development by the end of reception. 


It added that the health and development of children under five is closely linked to the affluence of the area they grow up in, with those living in deprived areas far more likely to suffer poor health.


Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children’s Bureau, said: “It is shocking that two children growing up in neighbouring areas can expect such a wildly different quality of health.


“As these variations are closely linked to poverty, with those in areas with the highest levels of deprivation more likely to suffer from a range of health issues, we have to ask whether England is becoming a nation of two halves?


“The link between poverty and poor health is not inevitable. Work is urgently needed to understand how local health services can lessen the impact of living in a deprived area.”


A spokeswoman for the RBWM, said: “This is excellent news for the health of local children and young people. We are pleased to see these results and will continue to work to further improve health for all young people in the borough.”