Concerns over growing childhood obesity crisis

The latest figures from NHS England show that almost 700 children under 16 were admitted to hospital because of obesity before the coronavirus pandemic – the second highest number on record.

Child health experts warned last month that the coronavirus lockdown could lead to a rise in obesity for a generation of children with a lack of exercise potentially leading to weight gain for many of them.
 
Russell Viner, who leads the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and is on the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), said, ‘We need to get kids back to school as soon as we can for their health. Everybody in the nutritional world is concerned.'

He added, 'We talk endlessly about the risks of transmission of Covid, and that's incredibly important, but it's not the only thing.

'The risk-balance equation for children is about the risks of not being in school and poor mental health, poor sleep and potentially lack of exercise and obesity.'

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary, is calling on the prime minister to stop backsliding on obesity and implement a radical obesity plan to: 

1. Protect children from junk food marketing with restrictions on advertising;
2. Create healthier retail environments, promoting healthy food choices in shops and supermarkets;
3. Include mandatory and clearer calorie and nutrition labelling on all food and drinks;
4. Ban the sale of energy drinks to children;
5. Reverse cuts to public health funding to roll out weight management programmes to support people to live healthier lives.

He said, ‘The childhood obesity crisis means we need decisive action from Boris Johnson not more dither and delay. Ministers promised to tackle our growing obesity crisis but have not implemented a single measure in over two years since the second chapter of the childhood obesity report was published. Ministerial dither is putting children's health at risk.

‘Given the fears over the impact of lockdown on obesity levels, it’s urgent that children’s health is now given priority and the action needed is no longer ducked by ministers.’

Labour’s analysis of the NHS England’s latest figures shows that in England in 2018/19:

• There were over 11,000 hospital admissions (all ages) directly attributable to obesity – an increase of 4 per cent on the previous year.
• There were also 876,000 hospital admissions where obesity was a factor – an increase of 23 per cent on the previous year.
• Almost 700 children (under 16) were admitted to hospital because of obesity – the second highest number on record.
• Just over 7,000 people had bariatric surgery in 2018/19 – an increase of 66 per cent over a decade. This includes two children under 16 who had the procedure.
• The numbers of people being admitted to hospital because of obesity and having bariatric surgery are both higher in more deprived areas;
• The majority of adults were overweight or obese; 67 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women. This includes 26 per cent of men and 29 per cent of women who were obese;
• Less than half of children (47 per cent) are currently meeting current physical activity guidelines.

Being obese is known to increase the risk of a number of diseases, including heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. The Labour Party said that it has been over two years since the Government first published the 2nd Chapter of its obesity report, but ministers have failed to implement a single recommendation.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been asked for a comment.