The problem of obesity in the UK is getting worse with misguided parents continuing to raise overweight children who are allowed to help themselves to sweets and junk food without getting any form of exercise.

According to UK health experts, child obesity is getting worse with one unidentified 10-year-old girl found to weigh almost 322 pounds (lbs). She leads the list of Birmingham students with the same age who all weighed more than 266 lbs. According to data from the Freedom of Information Laws, almost 50 children had weights of 224 lbs by age 11.

The latest statistics indicate that the UK may be in the middle of a childhood obesity epidemic. Health experts fear that 20 per cent of children have become overweight. This reduces their life expectancy by 10 years and can possibly lead to billions in the cost of health services.

Child Growth Foundation's Tam Fry believes it is direct "abuse" to allow children to gain so much weight and risk their health. She was horrified by the obesity figures but points a finger to parents who made them that way.

Citing the case of the 10-year-old girl, Ms Fry questioned why no one has done something about it earlier. It was clear that the girl is in trouble for being obese. Ms Fry added that nurses, social workers and doctors who saw the girl should share the guilt in not blowing the whistle.

Earlier in December, it was reported that a 5-year-old girl from Wales has been taken into care after she was found to weigh around 140 lbs. The girl was recorded as the heaviest child of her age in the UK. The young girl was diagnosed as morbidly obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 70 which is three times higher than normal.

In Western Europe, the UK has the highest child obesity rate. The National Health Service is expected to spend 4.2 billion pounds a year. Previous reports indicated that five children have been taken from their families and placed in the care of social workers due to overfeeding.

Childhood obesity has been linked to a number of serious illnesses including asthma, Type 2 diabetes and breathing problems.

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