MP visits East End to see how schools cope with child obesity

MP Diane Abbott is visiting London’s East End this-afternoon to see at first hand how schools are tackling child obesity.

She is meeting pupils and parents at Manorfield Primary in Poplar which has signed up to an after-school programme for families and pupils aged seven to 11 on healthy living.

“Tackling obesity requires work on diet, exercise and lifestyle,” said the Hackney North & Stoke Newington MP.

She is backing the programme created by the social enterprise organisation called MEND—‘Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it!’—which has produced a 10-week strategy.

It is run in partnership with NHS East London, targeted at youngsters aged seven to 11 in Tower Hamlets and neighbouring Hackney and Newham who are overweight for their height and age.

Tower Hamlets is one of the worst reported areas in the country for child obesity, with one-in-four aged 10 and 11 being overweight.