More than one in four Leicester children aged 10 and 11 are obese

More than a quarter of Leicester’s Year 6 pupils are classed as obese. New NHS data reveals that 25.8 per cent of children aged 10 and 11 who live in the city fell into that category for the 2023/24 academic year.

Obesity levels for this age group have increased compared to last year, when the figure was 25.2 per cent. A further 13.4 per cent were classed as overweight but not obese, the data shows, with 57.6 per cent considered to be a healthy weight. The remaining 3.2 per cent were classed as underweight.

The obesity rate in Leicester is higher than the rate for the county, where 18.8 per cent of youngsters are considered obese, and 65.7 per cent are considered to be a healthy weight. The city rate is also higher than the national average, which sits at 22.1 per cent for obesity, while 62.5 per cent are considered to be a healthy weight.

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A spokesman for Leicester City Council, which works with local health organisations, including the NHS, to encourage its residents to have a healthy lifestyle, said the levels of obesity in the 10-11 age group “continue[d] to be a concern”.

He added that the causes of childhood obesity were "complex” and could involve “a range of genetic, individual, social, living and working and environmental factors”. He said: “This is a long-term issue that is experienced by most authorities across the country.

“While local rates are higher than the national average, they remain similar, or lower, than some of our comparator authorities.” The two council areas with the highest obesity rates each have more than 30 per cent of their children aged 10-11 falling into that category. They are Sandwell, in the West Midlands, with 31 per cent, and Knowsley, in north west England, with 30.2 per cent.

“In Leicester, our public health team lead on a citywide ‘whole system approach to healthy weight’,” said the council spokesman. “This aims to create an environment where the healthy choice is the easy choice.

“Working with partners across Leicester, we aim to promote breastfeeding, healthy eating and physical activity in early years and schools, and consider the impact that the wider environment has on the ability of children and families to make healthier choices. Promotion of our community centres, leisure centres, parks and open spaces, and walking and cycling infrastructure, all contribute to this.

“For children aged eight to 13 years old who are living with excess weight, specific support can also be offered through the Family Lifestyle Club. The programme consists of physical activity, nutrition and behavioural change components and involves the whole family.”

While obesity rates for Year 6 pupils in Leicester are higher than average, those for reception-age children – four-to-five-year-olds – are below the national average, at 9 per cent compared to 9.6 per cent. The council spokesman said that that rate had also dropped compared to last year. The equivalent rate across the county sits at 8.4 per cent.

The highest rates of obesity among Year 6 children in the county are found in North West Leicestershire district and Oadby and Wigston borough, with both sitting at 20.7 per cent. North West Leicestershire also has the highest rate of reception-age children classed as obese across all areas of Leicestershire, including the city, at 10 per cent.

Harborough district has the highest proportion of children aged 10 and 11 who are considered to be a healthy weight, at 70.4 per cent, while Blaby district has the most reception-aged children considered to be a healthy weight, at 80.8 per cent.