Recent statistics have unveiled a troubling trend: nearly one-third of children in certain regions of England are overweight or obese by the time they begin school. This alarming data highlights County Durham, where 30% of six-year-olds fall into this category, a figure that is twice as high as that in Wiltshire.

On a national scale, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among young children is almost 25%. This represents an increase from last year, though it is a slight decrease compared to pre-pandemic levels.

NHS England, which released the figures, reported that 10% of children are classified as obese, marking the highest rate recorded outside of pandemic periods.

Health experts have expressed deep concern over these findings, describing them as a ‘stark reminder’ of the ongoing issue of poor child health throughout England.

In response, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has pledged immediate action, emphasizing that the government will not ignore the growing health crisis among children.

Health secretary Wes Streeting also vowed to ‘act now’ and claimed the Government would ‘not look away as kids get unhealthier’. 

Childhood obesity has been a growing issue for years, with easy access to fast food, more screen time and sedentary lifestyles blamed for spiralling rates in some parts of the UK. 

The figures come from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), which involve measuring the height and weight of more than a million children every year. 

According to the fresh data, 24.7 per cent of children in reception were classed as obese or overweight in 2024/25.

When it came to analysing severe obesity from the overall obesity figures, 2.7 per cent of girls and 3.1 per cent of boys in reception were severely obese.

This means 2.9 per cent of all children were severely obese, up on 2.6 per cent the previous year.

Broken down by local authorities, data showed Darlington followed County Durham with 28.7 per cent of children classed as obese or overweight. 

Gateshead and Hartlepool, meanwhile, recorded rates of 27.8 and 27.6 per cent respectively.  

By comparison, the figure stood at 15 per cent in Wiltshire, 16.9 per cent in Torbay and 17 per cent in Swindon. 

For children in Year 6, obesity prevalence (22.2 per cent) was similar to last year, when it was 22.1 per cent. 

Some 13.9 per cent are overweight in Year 6, meaning more than one in three children in this age group — age 10 and 11 — are overweight or obese.

Similar to the previous year, 4.5 per cent of girls and 6.6 per cent of boys were severely obese, meaning 5.6 per cent of all children were. 

Professor Simon Kenny, NHS national clinical director for children and young people, said: ‘These figures are extremely concerning.

‘Obesity can have a devastating impact on children’s health, increasing their risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, mental health issues, and many other illnesses, which can sadly lead to shorter and unhappier lives.

‘The NHS is transforming the lives of thousands of children and families impacted by severe weight issues through its specialist clinics, supporting them to lose weight, live heathier lives and improve their mental health through a personalised package of support.

‘But prevention is key, and continued joined-up action by industry and wider society is essential if we want to improve the health of our younger generations.’

Katharine Jenner, executive director of the Obesity Health Alliance, added that the data was 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,’ she said. 

‘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.

Health secretary Wes Streeting vowed to ‘act now’ and claimed the Government would ‘not look away as kids get unhealthier’

‘These concerning trends are at odds with the Government’s ambition to create the healthiest generation of children ever.’

But health and social care cecretary Wes Streeting said: ‘This government will not look away as kids get unhealthier and critics urge us to leave them behind.

‘Obesity robs children of the best possible start in life, sets them up for a lifetime of health problems, and costs the NHS billions.

‘Today’s figures show the extent of the problem and the need to act now, which is exactly what we’re doing — in schools, on sports pitches, and online — to make healthy choices the easy choices, support families, and turn the tide on childhood obesity.

‘This is prevention, not punishment, and will help families and children across the country.’

The NCMP, responsible for today’s data, was established in state-funded schools in England in 2006 and was considered a key element of the former Government’s war on childhood obesity.

The NCMP measures the height and weight of children which are then used to generate a Body Mass Index.

This is compared to a national scale to determine whether that child is underweight, normal, overweight or obese.

But experts have warned the programme may do more harm than good and potentially encourage eating disorders in kids.

Parents of slim children have even complained about their kids wrongly being labelled fat.

It comes as the World Health Organization last year also revealed 37million children under the age of five are now overweight globally — four million more than at the turn of the century.

Australia ranked second in the table of 198 countries, with 21.8 per cent of children there classified as overweight.

Britain was 22nd (11.3 per cent), while the US claimed 52nd spot (7.9 per cent).

The WHO has warned obesity globally is ‘moving in the wrong direction’ and shows ‘no immediate sign of reversion’.

Obesity doesn’t just expand waistlines but health care costs, with the NHS spending an estimated £6.1billion annually on treating weight-related disease like diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.