Childhood Obesity Rises to Highest Pre-Pandemic Level

One in 10 children starting primary school in England is now classed as obese — the highest rate recorded outside the pandemic, according to new data.

Figures from the National Child Measurement Programme show that in 2024/25, 10.5% of reception pupils and more than 20% of those in Year 6 were obese, with boys more likely to be overweight than girls.

An additional 13% of reception-age children were found to be overweight, meaning nearly one in four children in this age group are above a healthy weight. Excluding the pandemic peak, this marks the highest obesity level in reception year since records began in 2006/07, rising from 9.6% in 2023/24.

Manchester primary school teacher Lee Parkinson MBE said that cuts to school sports funding after the 2012 Olympics caused lasting damage.

“The promise to ‘inspire a generation’ faded fast with austerity. Many schools lost specialist PE teachers and local competitions, and PE time is often squeezed as academic pressures grow. Childhood obesity can’t be separated from poverty,” he said.

Parkinson added that while schools promote healthy lifestyles through PE and education, they cannot tackle the issue alone:

“We need to reinvest in early years support, rebuild affordable community sport, and make healthy choices accessible to all families — not just the privileged few.”

A separate report on children’s nutrition found that 94% of teachers believe healthy eating improves pupils’ behaviour, focus, and energy levels in the classroom.

Research by the Trussell Trust revealed that 9.3 million people in the UK, including three million children, face food insecurity — with one in four children under five at risk of needing food bank support.

Parkinson noted that hunger directly affects learning:

“If children come to school hungry, it’s much harder for them to concentrate.”

This problem often worsens during school holidays. Last summer, one in 12 parents said their children had missed meals due to financial pressures — an issue eased during term time through free school meals.

Parkinson added:

“Sometimes it’s not about lack of knowledge — unhealthy food is often cheaper or more accessible. When parents work long hours and struggle financially, healthy living becomes another impossible task.”

The majority of teachers (88%) reported seeing hungry children in school, and two-thirds (66%) said they personally provided or bought food for them. Nearly all (98%) agreed that nutrition is essential for learning, though 83% admitted it is difficult to motivate children about healthy eating.

Overall, 1.1 million children were measured at state schools as part of the latest data collection.