CHILDREN’S health in Oxfordshire has been scrutinised by the Government in an annual report looking at the health of children and young adults.

Public Health England released its Child Health Profile for Oxfordshire yesterday, which paints a picture of children’s gender, ethnicity and health.

According to the study, about a fifth of school pupils are from “a minority ethnic group”.

The study shows about 18,200 children in the county are living in poverty.

Obesity among children has also increased since a similar study was carried out last year.

The report says that about 7.3 per cent of children between four and five years old are obese, compared to 6.4 per cent in 2014.

Nearly 17 per cent of children between 10 and 11 years old are also considered to be obese.

Teenage pregnancies and conceptions seem to have marginally reduced in Oxfordshire, according to the latest available figures.

Less than one per cent of women giving birth were under 18 years old between 2013 and 2014.

The report concludes: “The health and wellbeing of children in Oxfordshire is generally better than the England average.

“The level of child poverty is better than the England average with 11.5 per cent of children aged under 16 years living in poverty.

“The rate of family homelessness is better than the England average.”