Children’s doctors have predicted that today’s kids will grow up to be the UK’s unhealthiest group of adults in generations.

They looked at 12 factors in their research, and noted that vaccination rates are down, while rates for obesity, asthma and hospital appointments for poor mental health are up.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) published the report. Dr Helen Stewart, its officer for health improvement, said: “The UK’s record on children’s health should be a national embarrassment.”

Inequality was recorded across the UK, with infant deaths and obesity more than two times higher in the poorest areas than they are in the richest areas.

Karen L Vaughan, a nutrition expert from the University of Leeds, thinks one way to improve children’s physical and mental health is with more cooking and food classes in schools.

Vaughan has conducted research and found that pupils who can peel vegetables and fruit are 15% less likely to be obese. She thinks that simple food skills should be treated like other essential skills, such as swimming.

However, she says that schools and teachers would need government support to make this happen.