Cuts to Sure Start centres could lead to increases in childhood obesity

Spending cuts to children’s centres could have contributed to thousands of cases of childhood obesity.

Author: Chris MaskeryPublished 22nd Jun 2021

Cutting budgets of children’s centres could have contributed to thousands of cases of childhood obesity, according to a new study.

In England, one in 10 children in their first year of school are obese, and 21% of pupils aged 10 and 11 are obese, according to data from the National Childhood Measurement Programme.

The experts behind this new report say reversing the cuts to Sure Start centres could help improve obesity rates.

What does the report on obesity say?

The new study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, examined data on spending cuts and levels of obesity among children.

Sure Start children’s centres provide services for pre-school children, including supporting a child’s healthy weight.

But the researchers found that austerity has led to big cuts to the centres, finding that spending on Sure Start children’s centres decreased on average 53% between 2010 and 2018, with deeper cuts in more deprived areas.

Did the cuts to Sure Start centres lead to more cases of obesity?

After assessing data researchers found that each 10% spending cut was associated with a 0.34% relative increase in obesity prevalence the following year.

That means there are an estimated 4,575 more obese children in England compared with expected numbers had funding levels been maintained.

9,174 children are estimated to be overweight or obese following the cuts to spending.

The authors wrote:

“Cuts to spending on Sure Start children’s centres were associated with increased childhood obesity.

“With deprived areas experiencing bigger spending cuts, reinvesting in these services may, alongside wider benefits for child development, contribute to reducing inequalities in childhood obesity.”

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