obesity is well-known to be a particular problem amongst children. A survey of obesity at primary school entry (ie 5 years of age) in Birmingham and the West Midlands in 2006 showed an average of over 12% overweight and around 10% obese. Levels of overweight and obese children in Birmingham as they leave primary school (11 year olds) showed that, on average across the wards, 40% of children are either overweight or obese, with up to 60% in the Edgbaston ward.