The latest statistics, published by NHS Digital, reveal the number of obese children in Reception has grown from 10 per cent in 2019-20 to 14 per cent in 2020-21.
Obesity rates among Year 6 pupils, children aged 10 and 11, have also sharply increased, according to the 2020-21 data.
The NHS said that the figures represent the highest annual rise since the National Child Measurement programme began 15 years ago.
It comes as news that specialist NHS clinics for severely obese children between the ages of two and 18 are to be set-up in England. A pilot of 15 clinics across the country will provide more than 1,000 children a year with specialist treatment to support weight loss.
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