Childhood obesity reaches 'record high'

The latest figures for the 2019/20 school year, published by NHS Digital, show that 13.3 per cent of Reception-aged children living in the most deprived areas were obese compared to 6.0 per cent of those living in the least deprived areas. In Year 6, this figure increased to 27.5 per cent of obese children living in the poorest areas of England, compared to 11.9 per cent who live in better-off neighbourhoods.

The overall statistics represent a worrying trend, with childhood obesity figures reaching a record high.

The report found that the obesity rate for Reception children - aged four and five - has risen from 9.7 to 9.9 per cent.

For pupils in Year 6, 21 per cent are now overweight or obese, up from a previous high of 20.2 per cent the year before.

In both age groups, boys have a higher obesity prevalence than girls, with 10.1 per cent of four- and five year-old boys classified as obese, compared to 9.7 per cent of girls. In Year 6, 23.6 per cent of boys were obese compared to 18.4 per cent of girls.

Tam Fry, chair of the National Obesity Forum told Nursery World that it’s the ‘worst news ever’ for anyone who is concerned about children’s weight, and confirmed the figures were 'a record high'.

Speaking about the Reception-aged children he said, ‘This is an indictment because we shouldn’t be having four-year-olds who are obese in the first place.

‘The easiest time to influence eating and exercise habits is when they are in the care of their parents or carers. They have the greatest advantage in making sure they eat the right food and have the right amount of exercise because if you leave it – and it has been left over the past 20 years – you will have these figures at aged five.