- Over 1 in 5 (20.4%) of children in Northern Ireland in Primary 1 were considered overweight or obese on measurement.
- Almost 3 in 10 (28%) of children in Year 8 were measured as overweight/obese.
In reference to immunisation the report comments despite the World Health Organisation stating that there is an expectation that a target of 95% coverage should be reached for all routine childhood immunisation in the UK by the age of five years that:
- Immunisation coverage in Northern Ireland has been falling and coverage for some immunisations is below the expected 95% target.
- Further examination showed that latest figures indicate that uptake of the 6 in 1 vaccine at 24 months old was 93.7% and MMR was 89.5%.
With regards to the significant disparities between the most and least deprived areas the statistics revealed:
- 23.9% of children living in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland in year 1 were measured as overweight/obese, compared to 16.9% of children from the least deprived areas.
- 34.0% of children living in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland in year 8 were measured as overweight/obese, compared to 23.4% of children from the least deprived areas.
- The proportion of low-birth-weight infants born to mothers residing in the most deprived areas in 2022/23 was higher at 8.4% than to mothers from least deprived areas (4.7%).
- The proportion breastfeeding was markedly lower in more deprived areas. In 2022/23, 39.1% of mothers from the most deprived areas were breastfeeding at discharge, compared to 67.8% of mothers from the least deprived areas
Dr Ray Nethercott, Officer for Ireland shared:
These figures demonstrate yet again how the children and young people in Northern Ireland are being failed.
I would urge the Northern Ireland Executive to get on and properly fund and implement the “Healthy Futures: A Strategic Framework to Prevent the Harm caused by Obesity and Improve Diets and Levels of Physical Activity in Northern Ireland” and to take immediate action to turn the curve on the levels of overweight and obesity.
The figures demonstrate the need for the long-promised Anti-Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland and I call on our Government to prioritise this - every day without will lead to wider disparities developing between the most and least deprived.
Targeted intervention to improve vaccination and breastfeeding rates is also essential. We need to deliver a positive future for all the children and young people in Northern Ireland.