More Children Gaining Unhealthy Weight in Primary School

More children in England moved into unhealthy weight categories during their time at primary school than improved their weight status, according to a report from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID).

The analysis, based on the National Child Measurement Programme, tracked children’s body mass index (BMI) from reception (ages 4-5) to year six (ages 10-11). The findings showed that 17.6% of children moved from a healthy weight in reception to an overweight, obese, or severely obese category in year six. In contrast, only 3.3% transitioned from a higher BMI category to a healthier weight.

Worsening Trends

This is the second analysis of the measurement programme by the OHID – a government unit within the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) – following its first report in 2022. Compared with the earlier cohort, a lower proportion of children maintained a healthy weight between reception and year six (77.6% versus 78.8%). Additionally, a larger proportion moved into a higher BMI category – 20.8% compared with 19.7%, the OHID highlighted.

“Obesity robs children of the best start in life and sets them up for a lifetime of health problems,” a DHSC spokesperson told Medscape News UK. “The disease is debilitating – costing lives, the economy, and the NHS.”

Obesity Rates Among Primary School Children

The proportion of obese children aged 4 to 5 increased to almost one in 10 (9.6%) in 2023-2024. Among year six children, obesity rates rose from 17.5% in 2006-2007 to 22.1% in 2023-2024, with one in three children in England leaving primary school overweight or living with obesity. One in five were classified as obese.

In 2017-2018, 84.8% of reception-age children were a healthy weight. By year six, 77.6% remained in this category. The proportion was higher amongst girls (79.7%) than boys (75.5%) and amongst children living in the least deprived areas (84.7%) compared to those in the most deprived areas (71.8%).

Ethnic disparities were also evident.The proportion of children maintaining a healthy weight in year six was higher amongst White British (79.1%), White and Asian (79.8%), and Chinese children (80.1%). Geographically, children in the East of England (79.3%), South West (79.8%), and South East (79.9%), had higher rates of maintain a healthy weight.

However, 20.8% of children who were a healthy weight in reception moved into a higher BMI category by year 6. This included 12.3% becoming overweight, 6.8% developing obesity, and 1.7% reaching severe obesity.

Boys were more likely than girls to move into a higher BMI category—23.1% versus 18.4%. The highest transitions to overweight or obesity occurred among Bangladeshi (27.8%), Black Caribbean (27.2%), Black African (26.5%), and Pakistani (26%) children.

Regional disparities were also apparent. Children in the North East (22.1%), North West (21.4%), Yorkshire and the Humber (22.6%), West Midlands (23.1%), and London (21.6%) were more likely to gain excess weight. Socioeconomic factors played a significant role, with 26.4% of children from the most deprived areas moving into a higher BMI category, compared with 13.4% in the least deprived areas.

As part of its Plan for Change, the government is tackling childhood obesity by giving councils stronger powers to restrict fast food outlets and cracking down on junk food advertising targeted at children, the DHSC said.

Other Health Trends

The OHID also highlighted a number of other health trends in England. Life expectancy for males rose from 76 years in 2001 to 79.3 years in 2023. For females, it increased from 80.6 years to 83.2 years in the same period.

Smoking prevalence among adults declined significantly, from 19.8% in 2011 to 11.6% in 2023. Premature deaths from preventable cardiovascular disease fell from 64.3 per 100,000 in 2001 to 30.5 per 100,000 in 2023. Preventable cancer deaths in those under 75 also declined, from 70.8 per 100,000 in 2001 to 48.8 per 100,000 in 2023.

However, high anxiety prevalence among individuals aged 16 and older rose from 21.7% in 2011/12 to 23.3% in 2022/23.

Meanwhile, deaths from preventable respiratory disease, alcohol-related hospital admissions, and long-term musculoskeletal problems remained relatively stable over recent years. 

Dr Rob Hicks is a retired NHS doctor. A well-known TV and radio broadcaster, he has written three books and has regularly contributed to national newspapers, magazines, and online. He is based in the UK.