Overview
- New NCMP 2024/25 figures show Reception obesity at 10.5%, the highest outside the pandemic and up from 9.6% last year, with Year 6 steady at 22.2%.
- Severe obesity affected 2.9% of Reception children and 5.6% of those in Year 6, with boys more affected than girls in both age groups.
- Obesity prevalence was more than double in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived (Reception 14.0% vs 6.9%; Year 6 29.3% vs 13.5%), and the report notes persistent ethnic disparities.
- London recorded the largest proportional rise between Reception and Year 6, increasing from 9.8% to 23.2% for a 137% jump, outpacing other regions.
- Local hotspots show nearly a third of Reception children overweight or obese in places such as County Durham (about 30%) and Darlington (28.7%), as NHS leaders, the Health Secretary and campaigners call for stronger prevention and clinical support.