Figures released from the government’s National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) show childhood obesity levels in England fell fractionally in 2014-15 compared with the previous school year.

RSPH cautiously welcomed the news, but warns much more must be done to make significant inroads, and to tackle the unacceptable inequalities in obesity levels between those living in the most and least deprived areas. The figures show:

• In reception year, one in 11 children (9.1%) is obese, down from 9.5% in 2013-14. More than a fifth (21.9%) are either overweight or obese, down from 22.5% in 2013-14
• In year 6, almost a fifth (19.1%) of children are obese, the same as in 2013-14, but up from 17.5% in 2006-07. A third (33.2%) are either overweight or obese, down from 33.5% in 2013-14 but up from 31.6% in 2006-07
• Childhood obesity rates in the most deprived areas are double those in the least deprived areas – 12% compared with 5.7% in reception, and 25% compared with 11% in year 6. This gap has widened since 2007-08, from 4.6% to 5.5% in reception, and from 8.9% to 12% in year 6.

RSPH recently set out a range of measures to tackle the childhood obesity crisis, including minimum physical activity levels in schools, restrictions on junk food advertising online, and a ‘sugar tax’.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of RSPH, said: "It is encouraging that childhood obesity levels have fallen slightly in the short term. However, we are still facing a situation where a third of children leave primary school either overweight or obese – more than was the case a decade ago – and where twice as many children leave primary school obese as enter it obese.

"A coherent, joined up strategy is needed to tackle the problem, and the government must not shy away from high profile environmental and financial measures, such as a sugar tax, if we are to avert the looming crisis childhood obesity is storing up for our health service.

"It is also unacceptable that children living in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely as those living in the most affluent areas to become obese, with all the health problems that entails. While the Government spending review rightly recognised the importance of tackling obesity and specifically focusing on children, in the same breath it has also announced proposals to change funding for public health services locally which could exacerbate the inequalities in childhood obesity levels."