Tackling Childhood Obesity: Findings from London’s Great Weight Debate

The latest data from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) on childhood obesity shows that the proportion of children in Year 6 (aged 10-11 years) with severe obesity has reached the highest point since records began, and there continues to be an upward trend in excess weight and obesity in Year 6 children. A downward trend of excess weight and obesity, however, is seen in Reception year (aged 4-5 years) boys. Health inequalities continue to widen in both reception and year 6 children, with prevalence of overweight, obesity and severe obesity higher in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived.

In June 2018, the Government set out its renewed approach to tackle childhood obesity, outlining a bold national ambition to halve childhood obesity and significantly reduce the gap in obesity between children from the most and least deprived areas by 2030.

Back in February 2016, the Great Weight Debate (GWD) was launched in London. The GWD aimed to raise awareness of the levels of childhood obesity and provide an opportunity to speak with Londoners and experts to hear their views and recommendations on reducing the levels of childhood obesity in the capital. PHAST was commissioned by the Healthy London Partnership to conduct an independent evaluation of the GWD. See final report – The Great Weight Debate: London’s conversation on childhood obesity.

The findings are being used to inform every London borough’s childhood obesity action plan and also informed the devolution deal for London, which now puts the capital in a stronger position to tackle the childhood obesity crisis.  As part of the project PHAST also looked at additional evidence and asked expert opinion to make recommendations for pan-London action.

¹ Public Health England (2018). NCMP Trends in children’s BMI 2006-07 to 2016-17.Accessed 14.08.18. Available at: https://khub.net/web/phe-obesity-intelligence/public-library

² Department of Health and Social Care (2018). Accessed 14.08.18. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childhood-obesity-a-plan-for-action-chapter-2

³ Healthy London Partnership (2017). Accessed 14.08.18. Available at: https://www.healthylondon.org/resource/findings-londons-great-weight-debate/