Record Number of Year 6 Children Categorised ‘Severely Obese’2 min read

The latest report of annual findings from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) shows that one in 25 children in Year 6 of Primary School are severely obese.

It has been reported that the number of 10 to 11-year-olds in this category has risen by a third in the last decade, making the increase a serious concern for many health experts.

The figures come from data collected by weighing and measuring more than a million schoolchildren living in England, giving a definitive measurement.

In the Year 6 category, data shows that over the last year, the percentage pupils aged 10-11 carrying excess weight has risen slightly from 34.2% to 34.3%.

The report also found that childhood obesity based on region was most prevalent in London, the West Midlands & North East. But in terms of the deprivation gap, over the last decade there has been an increase of obesity among boys & girls in deprived areas around the country.

Coming from a deprived area of London, these statistics don’t seem to surprise me at all especially with the amount of fast food outlets available in working class localities.

Having been overweight since childhood, it’s disappointing to see that not much change has been made in preventive measures for fast food businesses in deprived areas.

Even though there’s is a benefit for local economy, having junk food at a cheap rate has proven costly especially among schoolchildren who can buy damaging food with little pocket money.

Despite sugar tax being introduced, more needs to be done to keep children active outside of PE lessons in schools.

Perhaps having a dietician in schools would help identify at-risk children, not to body shame, but rather provide health warnings to parents concerned about their child’s well-being.

It is important that we as a society give our children the best to insure a safer future. Childhood obesity is no joke. As you grow older, it becomes a challenge to lose that excess weight and the risks of developing life-threatening diseases peaks.

 

Photo by Wine Dharma on Unsplash