Obesity among children across the Towns remains high with an alarming increase in pre-school youngsters now termed as overweight.

An across-the-board package on how to tackle the battle of the bulge has been compiled by Medway Council.

Figures show increases in overweight and obesity rates among those aged between four and five and 10 and 11.

Levels across Medway have risen slightly above the England average.

Last year, just under 23% reception class pupils were considered overweight and just less than 10% obese.

This compares to about 17.5% overweight in 2008 and 7% obese.

In Year 6, more than 36% were overweight last year and 21% obese. In 2008, the figure was 36% overweight and 20% obese.

Free swimming, Nordic walking and cookery lessons for adults are among the measures suggested to meet the government's aim to halve childhood obesity by 2030.

A report to be discussed at today's cabinet meeting says: "Doing nothing is not an option."

Cllr David Brake, chairman of the health and wellbeing board, said: "We set out to tackle the problem five years ago with our health summits and we have never taken our eye off the ball.

"Childhood and adult obesity prevalence is considered to be Medway's biggest population health challenge."

He said the council had adhered rigidly to its policy of not allowing new takeaway businesses to open within 400 metres of primary and secondary schools.

A Healthy Weight Network, which has recently been set up, includes representatives from 25 health, leisure and environmental organisations.

The report says: "If Medway is to be successful in tackling obesity, new actions need to be taken forward and existing actions need to work more collaboratively to ensure all existing resource is used effectively.

Cllr Brake said: "It is not about pouring lots of money into it. It is about educating people.

"Sadly, in our deprived areas, there are still people who think the answer is to buy fish and chips rather than cook a meal.

"We are also going into schools and educating children to go home and say they would prefer a healthier option for tea.

"What is a worry is that children are starting school borderline overweight.

"We don't know why the rates started to rise in 2018 and 2019.

"If we did know the reason, we'd bottle it."

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