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6d ago

North of England Bears Brunt of Rising Child Food Insecurity and Obesity, Report Finds

The ‘Hungry for Change’ report highlights socioeconomic disadvantage as the main driver of northern England’s child obesity alongside widespread food insecurity, calling for targeted policy reforms.

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Overview

  • Food insecurity among households with children rose by 5.5% in the North compared to 3.8% in the South between 2019/20 and 2022/23.
  • Year 6 obesity rates reached 24.5% in the North East, the highest level recorded in England.
  • Reception-age obesity affects 12.9% of children in the most deprived areas compared with 6% in the least deprived, with severe obesity four times more prevalent.
  • Nearly 70% of northern residents live within 1 km of a fast food outlet, a rate 7.4% higher than in the South.
  • Recommendations include reversing welfare cuts, expanding affordable healthy food access, restricting fast food outlet growth and strengthening free school meal schemes.