Thaindian News

London, Apr 14 (ANI): A new study has raised the alarm over rising levels of obesity in the UK - it found that the waistlines of young girls are four inches larger than those of their counterparts 30 years ago.

It means that the average 11-year-old’s waist is more than 27.6inches, compared to 23.2 inches during the late 1970s, reports the Daily Mail.

She now has the same size waist as a boy of the same age.

Although boys’ waistlines have also expanded, they have not grown to the same extent, rising to 27.6in compared to 24.2in during 1978.

The figures are further evidence that young women are more likely to become dangerously overweight than men.

Experts believe problems begin at school and may be because girls are far more reluctant to take part in PE or join school sports teams.

The latest measurements were taken from 2,500 children aged 4-17 using a 3D scanner - and compared to readings taken from more than 8,000 children measured in 1978.

Compiled by market research firm Select Research, the readings are being used by stores including Asda and Marks and Spencer to adjust clothes sizing for children.

Youngsters are getting taller too. An average 11-year-old girl is almost 4ft 11in, compared with just over 4ft 9in in 1978.

The average boy of 11 is around 4ft 10in, up from 4ft 9in.

However, Richard Barnes, MD of Select Research, said it was too early to draw conclusions on childhood obesity trends from the data.

“The increases in waist circumference since 1978 show that children have got bigger. However, increases in height and chest size show that children in the UK have grown over the years in many ways,” he said.

“Using BMI to measure obesity in children should not be relied upon as an accurate indicator of risk to health as both components, height and weight, are variables, he added. (ANI)