So in both age groups, children in the most deprived areas were approximately twice as likely to be obese. In Year 6 (ages 10-11), 13.5% of children in the least deprived areas were obese, compared with 31.3% in the most deprived areas. Among reception (ages 4-5) children in 2021/22, 6.2% of those in the least deprived areas were obese compared with 13.6% of those in the most deprived areas. Please note that data for 2020/21 was gathered using a different method, which may explain the spike in that year.Ĭhildren living in the most deprived parts of England are substantially more likely to be obese. Obesity among year 6 children has increased over time. This difference is less than one percentage point at ages 4-5 (reception), but rises to six percentage points among ages 10-11 (year 6). In both age groups, boys are slightly more likely than girls to be obese. This data is gathered as part of the National Child Measurement Programme and published by NHS Digital. Childhood obesity in Englandġ0.1% of reception age children (age 4-5) were obese in 2021/22, with a further 12.1% were overweight. Source: Sport England Active Lives Survey data, via OHIDįor information on policy in this area, please see our briefing paper Obesity. In the most deprived areas in England, prevalence of obesity or being overweight is 9 percentage points higher than in the least deprived areas. Since 1993 the proportion of adults in England who are overweight or obese has risen from 52.9% to 64.3%, and the proportion who are obese has risen from 14.9% to 28.0%. Source: NHS Digital, Health Survey for England, Table 1 The survey, published in December 2022, found that men are more likely than women to be overweight or obese (68.6% of men, 59.0% of women). People aged 45-74 are most likely to be overweight or obese. BMI between 25 and 30 is classified as ‘overweight’. Obesity is usually defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above. The Health Survey for England 2021 estimates that 25.9% of adults in England are obese and a further 37.9% are overweight but not obese.

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