OVER a quarter of pupils in Bracknell Forest leave primary school obese or overweight, new figures released by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have revealed. 

The latest numbers, which show that 27 per cent of younger school children in the borough are over their recommended weight, come as the heart charity aims to crack down on junk food advertising on TV before the watershed.

The statistics mean there are around 360 children in the borough leaving primary school who are obese or overweight.

Nationally, over a third - 33.2 per cent - of Year 6 children are obese or overweight, increasing their risk of a heart attack or a stroke as they get older.

The charity believes millions of children across the UK are being over-exposed to junk food advertising, during popular shows as the X Factor and Hollyoaks.

It claims weak regulations are creating loopholes that mean food companies can freely advertise junk food, that is high in fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

Its analysis shows 13 junk food adverts were shown during just one X Factor show last year though current regulations mean that unhealthy foods are banned from TV during a time when children should be watching.

However, the latest Ofcom figures show that 65 per cent of children watch TV during what is considered adult airtime. 

Peak viewing for children is between 7pm and 8pm with up to 1.8m children glued to their TV screens.

Mike Hobday, director of policy at the BHF, said: "It’s worrying that so many children in Bracknell Forest are obese or overweight. Carrying excess weight into adulthood increases the risk of developing heart disease in later life.

"We mustn’t allow food companies to continue to exploit a failing regulatory system that allows them to bombard TV screens with junk food adverts at the times when the highest numbers of children are watching TV.

"We need to protect young people against the sophisticated marketing techniques of junk food advertisers to help tackle the obesity crisis which threatens the heart health of future generations."

The BHF has now teamed up with eighteen organisations to create a national campaign to tackle unhealthy food marketing and call on the Government to introduce a 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks. 

For more information visit www.bhf.org.uk/junkfood