Obesity prevalence increases in reception age primary school children
New findings published today from the Government's National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for England, shows that the prevalence of obesity has risen for the second successive year from 9.3 per cent in 2015-16 to 9.6 per cent in 2016-17 for children in reception year.
- Obesity prevalence was more than twice as high among children in year 6 (20.0 per cent, similar to 2015/163) than in reception age children, according to the National Child Measurement Programme, England - 2016/17 school year, published today by NHS Digital.
- More than one in three children (34.2 per cent) in year 6 were either overweight or obese in 2016-17. Almost one in four children (22.6 per cent) were overweight or obese in reception year.
- The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) measures the height and weight of over one million children in England annually and provides robust data on the number of children in reception and year 6 who are underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese.
- Regional data included in the 2016-17 report show how obesity prevalence varies by local authority. This ranged from Kingston-upon-Thames at 4.8 per cent, to 13.5 per cent in Wolverhampton for reception year.
- Year 6 obesity prevalence ranged from 11.3 per cent in Rutland to 29.2 per cent in Barking and Dagenham.
Jenny Rosborough, Campaign Manager and Registered Nutritionist at Action on Sugar says: ‘Today’s figures are another reminder that the government are not doing enough to protect the health of our children. Levels of child obesity are high and rising, and despite the physiological and psychological health consequences associated with obesity, insufficient action has been taken to prevent food and drink companies from marketing, promoting, and therefore selling, huge amounts of products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat to vulnerable audiences.
"The data clearly shows that the prevalence of obesity in children living in the most deprived areas was more than double that of those living in the least deprived areas and if Theresa May is serious about closing the inequalities gap, she must revisit the government’s childhood Obesity Plan as an urgent priority.’
The Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of over 30 organisations, says: “Each year the childhood obesity statistics tell the same devastating story. Obesity continues to rise and it’s the children from the most deprived backgrounds who have the odds stacked against them. Nearly one in ten children are obese when they first start school and children from the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to be affected.
“The Government says that tackling obesity is a priority. The soft drinks levy and the sugar reduction programme are both positive steps. But a real commitment to tackling obesity means also getting to grips with the environment in which our children grow up. Adverts for unhealthy foods have a significant impact on consumption habits, and we want to see immediate action to restrict junk food marketing at children – both online and on TV before the 9pm watershed.
Failing to tackle obesity means failing our children, and if today’s figures tell us anything, it’s that there’s a long way to go before the battle is won.”
