England sees rise in child obesity with area and deprivation gaps

New government data for the 2024 to 2025 school year show rising levels of excess weight among children in England, with one in 10 Reception pupils and more than one in five Year 6 pupils now classified as obese, the National Child Measurement Programme reported on children measured in state-maintained schools. The survey measured about 1.1 million children and found marked variation by area, deprivation and ethnic group.

The programme recorded an obesity prevalence of 10.5 percent among Reception children aged four to five, the highest level outside the early pandemic peak, and 22.2 percent among Year 6 pupils aged 10 to 11. In addition, 13.0 percent of Reception children were categorised as overweight, meaning almost one in four Reception pupils were overweight or obese. In Year 6 a further 13.9 percent were overweight, so more than one in three older primary pupils were overweight or obese. Severe obesity affected 2.9 percent of Reception children and 5.6 percent of Year 6 pupils, with boys more likely than girls to be severely obese.

The findings underline persistent inequalities. Obesity prevalence in the most deprived areas was more than double that in the least deprived...