The LGA has predicted that around a quarter of four to five-year-olds could be obese by 2030 meaning the Government will miss its target to halve childhood obesity. According to current trajectories, no council will halve their childhood obesity prevalence by 2030 if these trends are allowed to continue.
Children living in areas with the highest levels of deprivation are most at risk, with 44% of 10-11-years-olds in the most deprived local authority areas in the country predicted to be overweight or obese by 2030 compared to 33% in the least deprived areas.
Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “As these stark new projections show, there is still much to do if we are to avoid today’s obese children becoming tomorrow’s obese adults. The Government must work with councils and others to turbo charge the efforts to tackle this ticking health time bomb.
“Access to healthy, nutritious food is a huge challenge for families in our most disadvantaged communities, particularly amidst the ongoing rise in the cost-of-living. To effectively tackle obesity, councils need funding to provide targeted support to those who need it the most, including the restoration of funding for weight management programmes which was removed this year.
“Money raised from the soft drinks industry levy should also be reinvested in other council-run programmes, including healthy eating programmes and active play and physical exercise schemes. Investment in councils’ public health services now will reap benefits for everyone longer-term and help improve the life chances of the next generation.”