Parents will receive letters from their child's school telling them if their son or daughter is overweight.
From next month, parents of pupils who have been weighed and measured at school will routinely receive the results in a bid to tackle obesity.
Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust (TPCT) has agreed to send out the results o
f the National Child Measurement Programme in line with Government guidance.
Previously, parents would only receive their child's results if they requested them.
Nonnie Crawford, director of public health at Sunderland TPCT, said: "Reducing the number of children who are overweight is a priority for Sunderland TPCT and we have invested in a programme to ensure all children in reception and Year 6 have their height and weight recorded.
"Reducing the number of overweight children needs a concerted effort and it is important that parents are aware of their child's weight in relation to their height."
The results of the measurement programme showed that a worrying 15.4 per cent of Sunderland children aged four and five (Year 1) are overweight – more than two per cent above the national average of 13 per cent.
And 12.4 per cent of Sunderland Year 1 children are obese, compared to a 9.9 per cent national average.
The results also showed that 17 per cent of Sunderland's Year Six pupils are overweight – more than two per cent more than the national average of 14.2 per cent.
And 21.4 per cent of Wearside 10 and 11-year-olds are obese, almost four per cent more than the national average of 17.5 per cent.
Health bosses hope that sending the results will raise awareness of healthy lifestyles and parents will help their children achieve a healthy weight.
Ms Crawford said parents will be advised of the programme and how to access the information early in the new academic year.
Health minister Ivan Lewis, who announced the Government's new guidance this week, said research had shown parents want to know their child's results.
He added: "Research shows that most parents of overweight or obese children think that their child is a healthy weight.
"This important move isn't about pointing the finger and telling parents that their children are overweight, instead it's about equipping parents with the information they need to help their children live healthier lives."
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