The Newshound

Obesity among reception pupils in England reaches its highest level outside the pandemic as the rich-poor gap widens

A healthcare professional measures a child's waist in a clinical setting, as Food Foundation director Anna Taylor warned that delays to anti-obesity policies carry significant community costs for deprived communities.
A healthcare professional measures a child's waist in a clinical setting, as Food Foundation director Anna Taylor warned that delays to anti-obesity policies carry significant community costs for deprived communities.
9 per cent of Year 6 boys are severely obese, compared with 4.8 per cent of girls.
9 per cent of Year 6 boys are severely obese, compared with 4.8 per cent of girls.

Obesity rates among reception-age children in England hit 10.7% in 2025/26, the highest since national measurement began in 2006/07, according to the National Child Measurement Programme report published by the Department of Health and Social Care. Severe obesity is four times more prevalent among the most deprived Year 6 pupils than the least deprived.

The gap between the most and least deprived Year 6 children has widened to 16.3 percentage points, surpassing the pre-pandemic figure of 15.5.

Among 10- and 11-year-olds in the poorest tenth of areas, obesity prevalence rose from 29.4% to 30.3%, against just 13.9% in the wealthiest tenth.

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