NHS Digital has presented findings from the Government’s National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for England, 2024/25 school year.
It includes children in Reception (aged 4-5 years) and Year 6 (aged 10-11 years) in mainstream state-maintained schools in England, with over 1.1 million children measured. Some of the key findings include:
- The majority of children remain a healthy weight (75.4% in reception, age 4 to 5 years, and 62.2% in year 6, age 10 to 11 years).
- 10.5% of children in reception and 22.2% of year 6 children are living with obesity.
- Excluding the pandemic peak, this is the highest obesity prevalence seen in reception since measurements began in 2006 to 2007.
- In 2024 to 2025, unlike in most previous years, there has been an increase in obesity prevalence in reception children in both the most and the least deprived areas.
- Children from Black ethnic groups are more likely to be living with obesity, and children from the Indian ethnic group more likely to be underweight.
- Obesity prevalence is more than double in the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived (14.0% versus 6.9% in reception and 29.3% versus 13.5% in year 6), and this deprivation gap has widened since the programme began.
Katharine Jenner, Executive Director of the Obesity Health Alliance responds:
The newly published National Child Measurement Programme 2024–25 data is a stark reminder that poor child health remains a serious issue across England – particularly among children living in the most deprived areas and those of Black African heritage. Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, regardless of their background.
The findings suggest that the recent small reductions in obesity among Reception-age children were short-lived, with this year’s figures showing one of the highest obesity rates recorded since the programme began in 2006–07.
These concerning trends are at odds with the government’s ambition to create the healthiest generation of children ever. At tomorrow’s Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry on food and weight management services, we will urge the government to move forward with implementing the NHS 10 Year Plan proposals as a matter of urgency.
The Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry on Food and Weight Management will continue on Wednesday 5th November, from 9:30am. You can tune in to see our Executive Director Katharine Jenner and a fantastic panel of experts here.
The government published a press release alongside the data to reiterate their plans, with Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting responding: