Obesity rates among poorest teenagers double that of richer peers, research shows

A new briefing paper by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) at the UCL Social Research Institute, shows that obesity rates in teenagers from the poorest families are twice as high as those from richer households - 28 per cent vs 14 per cent.

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Over all, one in five (21 per cent) of young people were obese at age 17, and a further one in seven (14 per cent) were overweight, the study finds, based on data collected in 2018-19.

The research analysed data collected from a nationally representative group of more than  10,000 teenagers who have been taking part in the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) since they were born in 2000-02. 

Using objective measures of participants’ height and weight, the research examined the prevalence of overweight, obesity, normal weight and also underweight among the cohort, from ages three to 17. 

The MCS data shows that rates of obesity have been high among this generation throughout their formative years, with around one in 10 measuring as obese from ages three through to seven, rising to two in 10 from age 11 onwards. At age 17, just over 21 per cent of the cohort were obese, with little difference in obesity levels between males and females.

Obesity rates among teenagers were strongly linked to household income, with those from the least well-off households the worst affected, researchers said.

Using income at birth as an indicator of socio-economic status, the research shows that levels of overweight and obesity were higher among poorer children across the whole of childhood, and this socio-economic gap became more pronounced as the cohort moved through adolescence.    

Experts have warned that the impact of being overweight and obese on young people is “even more worrying given emerging evidence on links between excess weight and Covid-19”.

Report co-author Professor Emla Fitzsimons said: “It’s a major concern that so many young people are an unhealthy weight and are starting off adult life facing an increased risk of greater long-term physical and psychological health problems. Levels of obesity among this generation are alarming.”

Dr David Bann, who also authored the report, added: “Obesity rates in the UK have been a concern for decades and these high levels among 17-year-olds, affecting the disadvantaged most, suggest that previous policy initiatives haven’t worked.

“Without ambitious policy action, we expect this concerning trend to continue in future and have long-term health consequences. Action on obesity now will help to protect the NHS in future. The planned closure of Public Health England leaves us with a pressing need for an independent properly funded organisation which has an obesity strategy as part of its remit.”

Responding to the report, Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, said: "As this report demonstrates yet again, bolder action is needed to combat childhood obesity, especially to reduce the gap between the most and least deprived.

“This means increasing targeted services and support for the communities that need it most, ensuring every child is able to have a good quality diet and a healthy lifestyle.

“Councils, which are responsible for public health, can help the government meet its target of halving childhood obesity by 2030 with significant additional investment in public health and leisure services, alongside greater powers to tackle clustering of existing takeaways and to restrict junk food advertising, as part of a whole-system approach.

“Unless we solve this crisis, today’s obese children will become tomorrow’s obese adults, increasing their likelihood of developing other health conditions such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease.”