It covers children in Reception (aged 4-5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10-11 years) in mainstream state-maintained schools in England and analyses of Body Mass Index (BMI) classification rates by age, sex, deprivation and ethnicity as well as geographic analyses.
The report found:
- Children living in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to be living with obesity, than those living in the least deprived areas
- 13.6% of Reception children living in the most deprived areas were living with obesity compared to 6.2% of those living in the least deprived areas
- 31.3% of Year 6 children living in the most deprived areas were living with obesity compared to 13.5% of those living in the least deprived areas
- The prevalence of children living with obesity was highest in urban areas for both age groups: 10.4% in reception and 24.4% in year 6.
In response to the report, RCPCH Officer for Health Improvement, Dr Helen Stewart said:
Today’s data reaffirms the intrinsic link between obesity and poverty. We now find ourselves in a situation where our most vulnerable children are twice as likely to become obese, and subsequently be at a higher risk of chronic illnesses, mental health issues and even a shorter life span. It’s inherently wrong that these children can be placed at such a disadvantage before even leaving primary school. These rampant health inequalities can no longer be ignored.
We’re calling on our new Health Secretary to reinforce the preventive anti-obesity policies which were recently rumoured to be at risk of being scrapped. We also ask that there be a renewed focus in tackling child poverty and deprivation. Concrete action, such as expanding free school meals, increased financial support for families struggling with rising inflation and publishing the Health Disparities White Paper can make all the difference here. The link could not be clearer, there is no tackling obesity without tackling poverty too.