The study from the Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton and the National Institute for Health and Care Research found that childhood obesity levels surged from 2019 to 2021 due to a change in young people’s eating habits and activity levels during national Covid-19 lockdowns.
Increased screen time, lack of sleep and outdoor physical activity was attributed to rising obesity levels.
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Tackling the growth in childhood obesity
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NHS at 75: The major challenges facing children’s health services
Data was drawn from the National Childhood Measurement Programme, which weighs children at the beginning and end of primary school, to calculate childhood obesity rates.
While obesity in reception-aged pupils increased by 45 per cent from 2019 to 2021, the data highlights that the number has reduced to be in line with pre-pandemic levels. However, obesity in children aged 10 and 11 remained higher than expected with an increase of 56,000 children classed as obese compared with pre-pandemic levels.
According to the study, this suggests that “weight gain is reversible” at a younger age.
The research also found that the increase in childhood obesity could cost the NHS £800m as well as a £8.7bn cost to wider society due to reduced productivity and quality of life.
Co-author of the report Professor Keith Godfrey from the University of Southampton said: “Alongside the even higher costs of the ongoing epidemic of childhood obesity, it is clear that we need more radical new policy measures. This will help reduce obesity and secure wellbeing and prosperity for the country as a whole.”
The report also highlighted a link between inequalities and childhood obesity, with researchers noting that rates "do not fall equally across the population".
Children in the most deprived areas are twice as likely to be obese than those in the least deprived areas, meaning they will face higher lifelong economic costs, the report finds.
Co-author Professor Neena Modi from Imperial College London said: “We need targeted interventions to bridge this alarming divide, especially in the under-fives where our study shows being overweight and obese can be reversed most readily. This will help ensure every child has an equal chance to grow up healthy.”
Promoting healthy behaviours in early life is one conclusion from the study, which the Early LifeLab programme in Southampton is aiming to achieve by creating toolkits to make the science behind the importance of a healthy diet, exercise and sleep suitable to primary school children.
