Increased obesity prevalence in primary schools

Obesity prevalence was more than twice as high in year six (19.8 per cent) compared to reception (9.3 per cent), according to the National Child Measurement Programme, England – 2015/16 school year, published recently by NHS Digital.

More than one in three children (34.2 per cent) in year six was either overweight or obese in 2015-16. More than one in five children (22.1 per cent) was overweight or obese in reception year.

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)measures the height and weight of over one million children in England annually and provides robust data on which reception and year six children are underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese.

Regional data included in the 2015-16 report show how obesity prevalence varies by local authority. Richmond upon Thames had the lowest figure for reception at 5.1 per cent, compared to 14.7 per cent in Middlesbrough, which was the highest.

In 2015-16, Richmond upon Thames also had the lowest obesity prevalence in year six with 11 per cent and Barking and Dagenham had the highest with 28.5 per cent.