Severe obesity in year 6 children in England reaches new high

New data show that 4.4% of year 6 schoolchildren in England are classified as severely obese, the highest rate on record.1 The figures from NHS Digital show that the rate of severe obesity among 10-11 year olds has increased for the fourth consecutive year, up from 3.7% in 2014-15.

The latest figures come as England’s outgoing chief medical officer, Sally Davies, called for bold action to help tackle child obesity, such as banning eating on public transport and introducing tighter rules on advertising and takeaways.2

The National Child Measurement Programme, overseen by Public Health England, measures the height and weight of over one million children in England each year. Severe …