Parents and carers urged to help children start New Year healthy
- 6 January 2025
- Department of Health and Social Care
- News story
Parents and carers across the country are being urged to help their children start the New Year healthy, as new figures reveal that childhood obesity is at its highest level on record.
The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) data shows that in 2022/23:
- 1 in 3 children aged 10 to 11 were overweight or obese
- 1 in 5 children aged 4 to 5 were overweight or obese
- Children living in the most deprived areas were more likely to be obese than those living in the least deprived areas
Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, said:
“Childhood obesity is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on children’s health and well-being. We all have a role to play in tackling this issue, and I urge parents and carers to do everything they can to help their children make healthy choices.
“By making small changes to your child’s diet and lifestyle, you can help them reach a healthy weight. This includes making sure they eat a healthy balanced diet, get plenty of exercise, and get enough sleep.”
The NCMP data also shows that the percentage of children who are overweight or obese has increased since 2019/20. This is particularly concerning given the well-established links between childhood obesity and a range of health problems in adulthood, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
The government is committed to tackling childhood obesity. We are working with a range of stakeholders, including the food industry, schools, and local authorities, to make it easier for children to make healthy choices.
We are also providing funding for a range of programmes that are designed to help children reach a healthy weight, including the Healthy Start scheme, which provides vouchers for fruit, vegetables, and milk to families on low incomes.
However, we cannot tackle this issue alone. We need parents and carers to play their part by making sure their children make healthy choices.
Here are some tips for parents and carers on how to help their children start the New Year healthy:
- Make sure your child eats a healthy balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains.
- Encourage your child to get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Set a good example by eating healthy and being active yourself.
- Talk to your child about the importance of making healthy choices.
By following these tips, you can help your child start the New Year healthy and lay the foundation for a healthy future.
Notes to editors
- The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is a surveillance system that measures the height and weight of children in reception year and year 6 in England.
- The NCMP data for 2022/23 is based on measurements taken from around 880,000 children.
- The NCMP data shows that the percentage of children who are overweight or obese has increased since 2019/20. This increase is statistically significant for children aged 10 to 11, but not for children aged 4 to 5.
- Childhood obesity is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on children’s health and well-being. Obese children are more likely to develop a range of health problems in adulthood, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
- The government is committed to tackling childhood obesity. We are working with a range of stakeholders, including the food industry, schools, and local authorities, to make it easier for children to make healthy choices.
- We are also providing funding for a range of programmes that are designed to help children reach a healthy weight, including the Healthy Start scheme, which provides vouchers for fruit, vegetables, and milk to families on low incomes.
- Parents and carers have a key role to play in tackling childhood obesity. By making small changes to your child’s diet and lifestyle, you can help them reach a healthy weight and lay the foundation for a healthy future.
Parents and carers urged to help children start New Year healthy
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