West Midlands tops in obesity among Reception children, says NCMP data

The West Midlands had the highest percentage of obese or severely obese students in Reception (age 4-5 years) and third highest among Year 6 (age 6-10 years) in 2020-2021, according to National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) data.

In 2020-21, 16% of Reception aged children were categorised as obese or severely obese in the region. Among Year 6 children, 28.4% were considered obese or severely obese.

The West Midlands’ figures are higher than the national figures for the same period. Across the UK, 14.4% of Reception-going children and 25.5% of Year 6 children were found to be obese or severely obese during this period.

However, there is good news for the nation as the figures, which are provisional, came down in 2021-22. Countrywide, 10.4% Reception-aged children and 23.5% Year 6-aged children were classed as obese in the latest figures.

The top five regions with obese or severely obese children in Reception were West Midlands at the top, Yorkshire and the Humber and London tied at the second spot, North West at the third, North East at the fourth, and East of England at fifth.

The top five regions with obese or severely obese chidlren in Year 6 were London at the top spot, followed by North East, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and North West.

Region-wise data for 2020-2022 are not available yet. However, previous years’ data revealed the state of children’s health in Birmingham, Solihull, and Sandwell.

For the period 2019-20 in Birmingham, 14.2% of the Reception-going children were labelled as obese or severely obese. Among Year 6 children, it was 31.7 % children.

In Sandwell, 16.9 % of Reception children and 35.6 % of Year 6 students fell into the same category for the same period of time.

In Solihull, the number was slightly lower at 10 % for Reception children and 23.2 % among Year 6 in 2019-20.

The data is collated by NCMP, which measures the height and weight of over one-million children in England in primary schools.

Dr David Strain, Chair of the Board of Science at British Medical Association (BMA), said: “As doctors we see first-hand every day how obesity is denying children and young people a healthy start in life. Obesity increases the risk of developing serious illnesses including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

“The significant risk factor that obesity posed for becoming seriously ill or dying from COVID-19 shows we have ignored this issue for too long, at our peril. With obesity rates Year 6 children climbing to just under one quarter since pre-pandemic, it is crucial that the next Prime Minister gives this issue the urgent attention it needs.

“It is therefore hugely disappointing to hear plans from one of the candidates for Prime Minister to axe the new laws; laws which have already been delayed by the current PM, despite being passed by Parliament.

“Since the Government published its ambitious obesity strategy in 2020, which the BMA and other expert organisations fed into to make sure its policies were in the interests of the health of both adults and children, there have been far too many U-Turns, delays, and broken promises.

“There is also a direct link between obesity and economic deprivation, and so the government’s commitments to ‘level up’ the country will be considerably undermined by a failure to tackle overweight and obesity.

“Lives are at risk here, and there is a real danger the next Government continues to place business profits before the health of our children. We would urge the next Prime Minister to follow through on its commitments to ban multi-buy deals offers and develop an obesity strategy that will improve the health of the nation rather than worsen it.”

Tory Prime Minister candidate Liz Truss had said last week she would halt a ban on ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ promotions on junk food.

Professor Graham MacGregor, Chair of Action on Sugar and Action on Salt, says: "Given the deeply worrying NHS Digital figures confirming the grim reality about childhood obesity soaring amongst children in the UK, it’s unbelievable that Liz Truss is now pledging to halt public health policies aimed at improving our food environment at this crucial time when it’s needed the most.

"Without doubt, the soft drinks industry levy demonstrated best practice for both business and for the nation’s health (especially those from the most deprived areas) and a similar levy on junk food would be equally successful.

“It’s abundantly clear that the UK Government’s voluntary sugar and salt reduction programme is simply not working by itself which is why more robust measures are needed in helping prevent unnecessary death and suffering,  and saving the NHS millions of pounds a year."

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