Over one in five Bolton year six children obese, NHS finds

The NHS Data findings show that 23.6 per cent of year six children across the borough are classed with the condition.

This comes just under a year after Bolton hosted a "giant milkshake" installation in the town centre in December 2023 as part of an NHS campaign aimed at raising awareness about childhood obesity.

Bolton Council cabinet member for adults, health and wellbeing Cllr Sean Fielding said: “Having any proportion of children obese is clearly not good given the additional health problems that childhood obesity can lead to. 

“However, as with most health statistics there is an inverse correlation between affluence and prevalence of the problem.

The giant milkshake in Bolton town centre (Image: Newsquest)

“Obesity can generally be avoided with regular physical activity and a balanced diet. 

“Though, work is still required at a national level to reduce inequality and poverty so that more people have the freedom and ability to make better choices.”

Bolton's total falls roughly in the middle compared to other areas around the country, but public health leaders have warned that obesity in children is often linked to high levels of deprivation.

The figures were published by NHS England and based on findings from the government’s National Child Measurement Programme, which covers mainstream state-maintained schools.

They showed that Bolton’s proportion of obese children, who are between the ages of 10 to 11, was slightly higher than the average across England of 22.1 per cent for 2023/24.

This national average was down slightly from 22.7 per cent in 2022/23 but still higher than before the pandemic.

Around 25.5 per cent of children were obese in 2020/21, the first year of the pandemic, which was a sharp rise from the 21 per cent of 2019/2020.

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NHS England’s national director for children and young people Professor Simon Kenny said that the health service will need to work alongside local and national government to tackle the issue.

He said: “Obesity can have a major impact on a child’s life, it affects every organ in the body and is effectively a ticking health timebomb for the future by increasing a child’s risk of type two diabetes, cancer, mental health issues and many other illnesses.

“The NHS is committed to helping young people and families affected by extreme weight issues with tailored packages of physical, psychological and social support, including our 30 specialist weight-loss clinics spread across the country, to ensure that every child can access support if they need it.

“But the NHS cannot solve this alone and continued action from industry, local and national government, and wider society together with the NHS is essential to help create a healthy nation.”