Childhood obesity: How did so many of our children get so overweight?

Britain has the fattest children in the European Union Credit: ITV Anglia

There are growing calls for the government to impose a 20% sugar tax to help tackle the obesity crisis.

We are the most obese nation in the EU. Some experts are even warning that children will start dying before their parents because so many are dangerously overweight.

The Anglia region has some of the largest numbers of obese children in the country according to a survey of year six children carried out in 2014/15 by Public Health England.

  • In Luton 23.4% were obese.

  • In Great Yarmouth it was 22.2%.

  • In Thurrock in Essex 21.3%.

  • In Peterborough 17.9%

  • Bedford 18%

  • Ipswich 19.5

How children's waists have grown since 1978 Credit: ITV Anglia
How one teenager slimmed down from 28 stone. Credit: ITV Anglia

Callum Curuk from Cambourne in Cambridgeshire weighed 28 stone at 16 because of his diet of chocolate, cake, fizzy drinks and fast food.

His doctor told him lose weight or die.

Callum is 14 stone now - half the weight he once was.

Fast food and sugar blamed for obesity epidemic Credit: ITV Anglia

Very overweight children have a higher chance of premature death and disability in adulthood.

A diet of sugary drinks and sugary food means many children are now developing Type 2 Diabetes - a condition that can cause nerve damage, blindness, kidney failure, strokes, even amputations.

Very overweight children are also at risk of tooth decay,heart disease, asthma and osteoarthritis.

Overweight children are more prone to depression, social isolation, self image issues, self esteem.