Hampshire health boss concerned by childhood obesity rise
One in five children are starting primary school overweight or obese
Last updated 14th Jun 2024
Childhood obesity will be the focus of a top Hampshire health boss because the number of children who are overweight or obese continues to rise.
More than one in five children are overweight or obese when they start primary school, and this rises to more than one in three by the time they leave primary school, a report said.
Simon Bryant, Hampshire County Council’s director of public health, presented his annual report (June 13) to the Hampshire health and wellbeing board, saying child obesity is a “significant health problem” which is an “urgent priority”.
The report said the proportions of overweight and obese children in reception class are similar to pre-pandemic levels. However, for year 6 children, the issue is getting worse, with higher post-pandemic levels showing a concerning trend.
According to the figures, 21 per cent of children in reception, those aged four and five years old, and 32 per cent of year 6 students, those who are 10 and 11 years old, suffer from being ‘overweight’ or ‘very overweight’ in 2022/23.
While the percentage of children who are overweight and obese in Hampshire is lower than the England average, this cannot be seen as a positive given the actual trend, the report said.
By 2040, it is expected that children overweight and obese in reception rise to almost 25.3 per cent, with the rate among year 6 pupils expected to rise to 37.3 per cent.
The prevalence of obesity is projected to rise to 9.9 per cent of reception pupils and almost 20.9 per cent of year 6 pupils.
In his report, Mr Bryant said that the “greatest” opportunity for focusing their efforts is between the ages of five and 11 to halt the steep rise between reception and year 6.
Mr Bryant said: “If we fail to act now carrying on as we are, levels of childhood overweight and obesity are projected to rise for this and the next generation. Several studies show that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to an increase in childhood overweight and obesity.”
Research shows obesity and being overweight disproportionately affect children living in deprived areas and different minority ethnic groups. In these areas, there is reduced access to healthier food retail options and often a greater density of hot food takeaways.
Children who are overweight or obese are more likely to experience other physical health conditions, for example, breathing difficulties, bone and joint problems, insulin resistance, high blood pressure and dental decay.
Alongside the physical health impact, emotional health issues can also influence a child’s life now and in the future.
Furthermore, data revealed that obese children and young people are five times more likely to be obese in adulthood. This would increase adult heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers, which generate more cost pressures on health services.
The UK-wide NHS costs attributable to overweight and obesity are projected to reach £9.7 billion by 2050, with wider costs to society estimated to reach £49.9 billion per year.
In Hampshire, it is estimated that the annual cost of obesity could be as much as £540 million annually.
Reducing physical activity is also associated with obesity. In Hampshire, only 48 per cent of children undertake 60 minutes of physical activity daily, which is the recommendation of the chief medical officer guidelines for children aged five to 17.
Terry Norton, deputy Police and Crime Commissioner called for the creation of more accessible spaces for young people without the stigma associated with the assumption that a group of young people is a gang.
Mr Norton said: “In many cases, police officers are called to attend parks because of noise from a group of young people. We need to take young people out and about in our spaces and not take the view that not everyone who congregates in groups is a gang.”
The director of public health told the board that child obesity is a significant health problem about which they should be worried, take action, and treat it as an “urgent priority.”
Mr Bryant said: “Child obesity is a significant health problem. We can see why children increase weight in primary school, and we know it impacts areas of inequality.
“We need to treat this as an urgent priority. When we had Covid-19, we were all behind it, and we knew what we were doing; it was urgent. Childhood obesity might seem further away, and we could say let’s not worry, but as a board, we need to worry. We need to take action and do it together.
“So let’s not wait to enable Hampshire’s children to be a healthy weight.”