Rochdale has some of the unhealthiest children in the country

Councillor Janet Emsley, Cabinet Member Health and Wellbeing, says a lot of work is being done to tackle the problem

Rochdale boroughhas some of the unhealthiest children in the country, it has been revealed.

New figures which measure children’s health including obesity, mental health, child mortality, alcohol and tooth decay rank the borough of Rochdale within the top ten worst nationwide.

Rochdale ranks as the ninth worst in the UK, with Blackpool taking the top spot with the unhealthiest children, and the healthiest down in Wokingham.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing Councillor Janet Emsley said: “If you look at these lists you can see that we are back to the north-south divide again.

“Rochdale hasn’t ranked particularly well in the league table but I’m happy to say that a lot of work is being done in the borough to tackle the problem. We have already declared war on obesity levels and I am happy to see the introduction of the sugar tax as it will help get the message across to parents.”

She added: “Schools can sign up to healthy eating but the real education starts with parents. They need to be aiming for low salt and low sugar before they even get to school, the seed needs to be planted as early as possible.

“As for mental health, I think it is very much connected to physical health and they need to be tackled together.”

The top ten unhealthiest areas are:

1. Blackpool
2. Manchester
3. Torbay
4. Blackburn with Darwen
5. Oldham
6. Salford
7. Sunderland
8. Lancashire
9. Rochdale
10. Southwark