Nearly a quarter of older primary school children in Nottinghamshire are obese

As the latest figures reveal inequality in obesity rates between pupils in deprived areas and their more affluent peers, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health says it is “inherently wrong” that some youngsters are at higher risk of poor health before even leaving school.

NHS Digital figures show 23.1 per cent of Year 6 pupils, aged 10-11, measured in Nottinghamshire schools were obese in 2021-22, including 5.5 per cent who were severely obese, with a body mass index in the top 0.4 per cent for a child's age and sex.

A further 14.6 per cent of children were overweight, meaning 37.7 per cent of Nottinghamshire’s youngsters are unhealthily overweight when they finish primary school.

​The figures show more older primary school pupils in the area are living with obesity than before the coronavirus pandemic – 19 per cent of students measured were obese in 2019-20, the latest period with comparable local data.​

The data comes from the Government's annual National Child Measurement Programme, which records the height and weight of Year 6 and reception-age children in schools across England to monitor obesity trends.

It revealed 31.3 per cent of Year 6 pupils in the most deprived areas of England were obese, compared with 13.5 per cent of those in the least deprived areas.

Helen Stewart, RCPCH officer for health improvement, said: “We now find ourselves in a situation where our most vulnerable children are twice as likely to become obese and subsequently be at a higher risk of chronic illnesses, mental health issues and even a shorter life span. It’s inherently wrong that these children can be placed at such a disadvantage before even leaving primary school.”

The college is calling on new Health Secretary Steve Barclay to reinforce the Government’s anti-obesity strategy.

Measures in the strategy include scrapping junk food adverts online and on TV before 9pm, expanding weight management services available through the NHS and preventing shops from putting promotions on foods high in fat, sugar or salt.

Across England, obesity prevalence among both reception and Year 6 pupils fell in 2021-22, to 10.1 per cent and 23.4 per cent respectively, following a rise the previous year.

But the obesity rate for both classes is still higher than before the pandemic as the crisis”exacerbated an already bad situation”, according to the Obesity Health Alliance.

Katharine Jenner, director, said: "The precise causes will still need to be analysed, but we do know sales of unhealthy food products increased during the pandemic.

“The small drop, likely to be a consequence of children returning to school post-pandemic and having regular snack and mealtimes, shows improvements are possible. But they will not drop further without political will from the highest levels of government.”

She said implementing obesity policies will have a “disproportional benefit” to those on low incomes.

A government spokeman said it is “committed to halving childhood obesity by 2030”, through support schemes for vulnerable families, such as Healthy Start.

He said: “More than £150 million is spent every year to the Healthy Food Schemes to promote a healthy diet for children.”