The National Child Measurement Programme found the proportion of obese four and five-year-olds rose to 9.6% in 2023/24, from 9.2% in 2022/23 but below the pre-pandemic level of 9.9%.

The report found the proportion of obese 10- and 11-year-olds fell to 22.1% in 2023/24 from 22.7% in 2022/23, but remained higher than the pre-pandemic level of 21.0% in 2019/20.

Levels of obesity in reception-aged children living in the most deprived areas (12.9%) were more than double those in the least deprived areas (6.0%). Similarly, obesity among year 6 children was 29.2% in the most deprived areas, compared with 13.0% in the least deprived areas.

The proportion of underweight year 6 children rose to 1.7% in 2023/24 - up from 1.6% in 2022/23. Underweight children in reception remained at 1.2%, the same level as in 2022/23. In 2023/24, the majority of children in reception (76.8%) and year 6 (62.5%) were a healthy weight.

Response

Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England's National Clinical Director for Children and Young People, said childhood obesity was a ‘ticking health timebomb for the future by increasing a child's risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, mental health issues and many other illnesses'.

Prof Kenny said the NHS was committed to helping young people and families affected by obesity but could not tackle the problem alone, adding ‘continued action from industry, local and national government, and wider society together with the NHS is essential to help create a healthy nation'.

Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said the soft drinks industry levy should be devolved to councils and targeted at the areas most in need, to help close the gap in child health inequalities and fight obesity.

Cllr Fothergill said: ‘The soft drinks industry levy was a crucial step in the battle against child obesity.

‘We are urging the Government to grant councils control over the levy's revenues and allocate funds to address the most pressing child health inequalities. It would also make more sense to target distribution of the levy to those areas that need it the most.

‘With deep connections to local health services, schools and communities, councils are uniquely placed to direct resources where they are needed most, creating healthier, more resilient environments for our children.'

Sarah Walter, integration director at NHS Confederation, said: ‘Whilst the new funding outlined by the chancellor in the Budget was welcome, if the NHS is going to achieve the Government's three shifts – including from treating sickness to preventing illness – then it will need to use the upcoming spending review and 10-Year Plan for health to give the health service the long-term financial security it needs to reform and deliver better outcomes for our children.'