Almost one in ten children obese in first year of school

Obesity levels among children starting their first year of school have increased to almost one in ten, according to new NHS figures.

The National Child Measurement Programme, which measures the height and weight of school children in England each year, found that the proportion of four and five-year-olds who are obese rose to 9.6% in 2023/24, from 9.2% in 2022/23. Levels of obesity in reception-aged children living in the most deprived areas (12.9%) were more than double those in the least deprived areas (6.0%).

June O’Sullivan, chief executive of the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), said: “As chief executive of the UK’s largest charitable childcare social enterprise, operating nurseries in some of London’s most deprived areas, I see firsthand the grim reality of how child obesity affects children and their families. Despite various interventions, it’s alarming that severe obesity rates have doubled, with serious implications for children’s health and wellbeing.”

She added: “ With the government’s latest budget now in place, we urge them to allocate funds from new taxes toward the early years sector, enabling us to train more chefs to prepare healthier meals and to educate both staff and children about good nutrition.”

Catherine Lippe, early years nutritionist at Nursery Kitchen, said she was “concerned but not surprised” by the figures. “What is particularly concerning is the glaring disparities between obesity levels in the wealthiest and poorest children in England,” she said. “These figures underscore an urgent need to focus on targeted interventions to tackle health inequalities, prevent obesity and give every child the best foundation for a healthy future.”

She added: “The government has pledged to offer free breakfast clubs in every primary school in England and there is some focus on improving school food standards and legislation, which is welcome, but these initiatives are not enough. By overlooking meaningful interventions in the early years, when lifelong eating habits and preferences are established, the government leaves a critical gap. Worsening obesity rates in reception-aged children (versus a slight improvement in older children) remind us that the early years should not be ignored. With a promise to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, now is the time to translate intention into action. The research is clear, we know the stats are worsening, now we must act.”

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