The report finds that children in Black African communities are at higher risk of being overweight or obese. In Reception, 31.2% are obese, which is higher than the England average of 22.1%. By Year 6, 45.9% are obese, which is higher than the England average of 34.2%.
Several ethnic groups have obesity and overweight prevalence that is significantly lower than the England average in Reception children, but in Year 6 prevalence is significantly higher.
The NCMP data finds that in Year 6, only children who are White British, White and Asian, or Chinese have overweight and obesity prevalence that is significantly lower than the England average.
The prevalence of obesity is higher in boys than girls in both Reception and Year 6. The difference between boys and girls is also greater in Year 6.
The latest 5 years’ worth of data for obesity prevalence by deprivation group has been combined and classified into five group instead of ten. In both Reception and Year 6, obesity prevalence in the most deprived quintile is almost double that of the least deprived quintile. Within each quintile, obesity prevalence in Year 6 is more than double that for Reception.
The NCMP annually measures over one million children and provides robust data on rates of childhood obesity.
To view the report, click here.