A CAMPAIGN to help tackle obesity in children across North Yorkshire has been embraced by the county’s council.

The new Be Food Smart campaign from Public Health England (PHE) is designed to get the county’s families to take control of their children’s diets.

It comes after shocking statistics reveal that 21.2 per cent of four to five-year-olds in North Yorkshire are overweight or obese, increasing to almost a third of ten to 11-year-olds.

Overweight children are more likely to become obese adults and thus prone to a range of serious health problems such as heart disease, some cancers and Type 2 diabetes.

As part of the campaign a new “Be Food Smart” app has been developed to highlight just how much sugar, saturated fat and salt can be found in everyday food and drink aimed at youngsters.

Parents can then use the app to make healthier decisions about their children’s diet.

The campaign is part of an NHS drive to encourage people to take more responsibility for their heath, reflected in the recent decision by the NHS Vale of York CCG to delay treatment for smokers and obese people by six months.

North Yorkshire County Councillor David Chance, executive member for public health, said the region’s latest child obesity figures highlighted the importance of parents knowing how much sugar is in their children’s meals.

He added: “The new Be Food Smart App has been developed to take some of the pressure off parents and helping them to choose healthier food and drink options for their children.

“The campaign also helps parents identify the health harms of children eating and drinking too much sugar, saturated fat and salt, including becoming overweight or obese and developing tooth decay.”

North Yorkshire families are encouraged to use the council’s Healthy Lifestyle Service which provides support for children and young people aged five to 19 who are above a healthy weight.