Record high for severe obesity in 10 to 11-year-olds

Public Health England has reported that levels of severe obesity in children aged 10 to 11 years have reached the highest point since records began.

Analysis of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) between 2006-2007 and 2016-2017, which showcases the height and weight of over one million children in Reception and Year 6, finds that the prevalence of excess weight, obesity, overweight and severe obesity are higher in the most deprived areas of the UK compared to the least deprived, and that the incase is happening at a faster rate in Year 6 compared to Reception.

Observations include an upward trend of excess weight, obesity and severe obesity in Year 6 children, a downward trend of excess weight, overweight, obesity and severe obesity in Reception age boys and a downward trend of underweight in Reception age boys and girls, and Year 6 girls.

With the Department of Health and Social Care aiming to halve childhood obesity by 2030, PHE is working with the food industry to cut 20 per cent of sugar from everyday products by 2020, and 20 per cent of calories by 2024.

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, said: “The rise in severe obesity and widening health inequalities highlight why bold measures are needed to tackle this threat to our children’s health. These trends are extremely worrying and have been decades in the making – reversing them will not happen overnight.”