According to the WHO growth reference, the prevalence of excess weight and obesity in adolescents is defined as:
From birth to less than five years of age:
- Overweight - more than two standard deviation weight-for-height
- Obese - more than three standard deviation weight-for-height
School aged children and adolescents:
- Overweight - one standard deviation body mass index for age and sex
- Obese - two standard deviation body mass index for age and sex
Obesity prevalence in reception class has increased to 9.7% in 2018/19. Year 6 remains static at 20.2% with a higher rate of boys, than girls, classed as obese (National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) 2018/19). Rates are highest in areas of deprivation and amongst some ethnic groups (National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and Child Obesity Profile 2020). Sports England Active 2018/19 study showed that only 47% of young people are meeting the daily activity guidance of 60 minutes per day.
Overweight and obese children are more likely to become obese as adults and will have a higher risk of morbidity, disability and premature mortality in adulthood (NCMP Operational guidance 2019). Obesity will have short/long- term impact on a young person’s physical and psychological health, putting them at greater risk of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, some cancers, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, osteoarthritis, reproductive complications, depression/anxiety, sleep apnoea and asthma.
There is a complex web of factors that influence our food and activity choices; biological and physiological, psychosocial and behavioural. These choices are often shaped by the environment that we live in. Parental attitude and perception play a key role in recognising and responding to childhood obesity because future lifestyles are determined by early life experiences, food preparation, activity levels, and leisure activities. Action needs to be taken across the life course.
