Calls for further action on sugar as UK child obesity rises
Increasing numbers of children in the UK are becoming obese from as young as four of five years of age, according to NHS figures. Obesity was also shown to be more common among boys than girls and in the most deprived areas of the country. Cancer Research UK’s director of prevention, Alison Cox, called for a ban on junk food advertising before 9pm while the Obesity Health Alliance urged the UK government to ensure the soft-drink sugar levy is introduced on time in 2017 and food manufactures to significantly decrease the amount of sugar in products.

A growing number of children are becoming obese as young as four or five years old, NHS figures have shown, sparking renewed concern about the obesity crisis.

Obesity is rising among children both in their first and last years at primary school, according to the latest annual measurements of children’s body mass index (BMI) in England.

Overall, 9.3% of four- and five-year-olds in primary reception class in England in 2015-16 were classed as obese, up from 9.1% the previous year, according to the national child measurement programme (NCMP).

The number of obese 10- and 11-year-olds in their last primary school year also rose from 19.1% to 19.8% last year – nearly one in five.

Richmond upon Thames in south-west London has the fewest fat children in England. In the borough, 11% of year six pupils are classed as obese. In contrast, in the east London borough of Barking and Dagenham 28.5% of children that age were found to be obese.

More boys are dangerously overweight than girls. Among reception pupils, 9.6% of boys were obese compared with 9.1% of girls. Similarly, 21.7% of boys in year six were obese compared with 17.9% of girls, according to the latest NCMP results published by NHS Digital.

The figures reveal that child obesity is rising again after falling slightly in 2014-15.

The statistics also underlined the stark class divide. NHS Digital’s report found that obesity prevalence for children in reception living in the most deprived areas (12.5%) was more than double that of those living in the least deprived areas (5.5%). In year six, 26% of children living in the most deprived areas were obese compared with 11.7% in the least deprived areas.

Nationally, the number of reception children who are either overweight or obese has also risen, from 21.9% to 22.1%. The same picture emerges with year six pupils, the number of whom found to be overweight or obese rose from 33.2% to 34.2%.

The figures come after Theresa May’s government was criticised for watering down the childhood obesity strategy that her predecessor, David Cameron, intended to publish. Health organisations, charities and campaigners such as Jamie Oliver have accused May of putting the interests of big business above those of public health and letting down children and families by publishing a “weak” action plan in August.

Experts voiced deep unease at the figures and upward trend. “It is deeply worrying that more children are leaving primary school overweight or obese than ever before and levels are increasing,” said Prof Kevin Fenton, the national director for health and wellbeing at Public Health England, which advises the government.



The number of obese 10- and 11-year-olds is the highest since children began being routinely weighed and measured in 2006-07. In that year 17.5% year 6 pupils were found to be in that category. Last year it was 19.8%, even higher than the previous record of 19.2% in 2011-12.



Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s director of prevention, said: “Our nation has hit a devastating record high for childhood obesity. The trend over the last decade is showing no signs of slowing down, and this worrying news is something that could have been prevented with more government action.



“But the government still has a chance to save lives. It has already recognised the influence of junk food marketing on children by banning junk food advertising during children’s programmes. It’s time now to stop this influential marketing before 9pm.”

The Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of health charities and medical organisations, said the figures should act as a wake-up call to ministers. “Year upon year, we are faced with sobering figures that reveal an increasingly worrying trend – the number of obese and overweight children in the UK is not falling and is in fact rising,” a spokesperson said.

“Today’s figures provide yet another wake-up call for all those intent on stemming the obesity epidemic – the alarm bells are ringing and there’s simply no time to hit the snooze button. These poor health outcomes mean we are failing our children, and future generations, if this trend continues,” said an alliance spokesman.

It wants the government to introduce its levy on highly-sugared soft drinks on time as planned in 2017 and “without dilution”, to restrict the marketing of junk food to children, both online and before the 9pm TV viewing watershed, and to push food manufacturers to introduce “ambitious” targets to reduce the amount of sugar in their products.