Exclusive new analysis published today by the Royal Society for Public Health shows that more than 90% of local authorities will see the percentage of children leaving primary overweight or obese increase over the next decade.

The new report, Playground Rules, is calling for a ‘whole school’ approach to physical activity to get children moving. It warns that without action taken now, as many as 41% of children aged 10 and over could be overweight by 2035.

Evolving health challenges for children and young people

Children today are facing complex and evolving health challenges, with rising rates of obesity and mental health conditions.

Children who are physically active – whether that is active play, competitive sport, or even just walking to school – are more likely to continue these habits into adulthood with all of the health benefits which they bring.

Despite this, more than half of our children and young people don’t meet the guidelines set for physical activity.

"We’re failing the test on childhood obesity"

Commenting on the findings of the report, William Roberts Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health, said:

As a nation we’re failing the test on childhood obesity. Our projections show that we are heading in the wrong direction on obesity, with children in some of the most deprived areas set to be worst affected.

The habits we form as children last a lifetime. Making physical activity the default in schools will go along away in helping to build a healthier future. Rather than seeing physical activity as something that happens for two hours a week in PE, we need to see it as an integral part of the whole curriculum.

The recommendations in our report are practical levers that can be implemented quickly. They build on extensive expertise in the system and won’t put additional pressure on teachers and school budgets we know are already feeling very stretched.

Ali Oliver MBE, CEO, Youth Sport Trust, said:

This report underlines what those working with young people have known for some time: physical activity must become a core part of every school day if we are to reverse the worrying trend in childhood obesity. At the Youth Sport Trust, we are working to build a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits of play and sport. Through partnerships with schools, communities and government, we need to work together to embed movement across the whole school and throughout every school day, supporting not only children’s physical health, but their mental and social development too. 

Taking action to reduce childhood obesity rates

A holisitic 'whole school' approach is needed to ecnourage physical activity in schools, which the report argues is key to reduce rates of childhood obesity.

The report highlights a range of actions that could be taken inside the school gates and by Government to encourage physical activity in schools.

These include measures such as new Ofsted reporting based on how schools promote children's wellbeing, which would include how well they encourage physical activity.

Additionally, it argues changes to the PE and Sports premium that would allow schools to spend funding ringfenced for PE on measures that could increase physical activity across the school day.

RSPH is also calling on Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) to lead on a ‘Youth Physical Activity Strategy’. This would bring together schools, the public sector, sports governing bodies, the gym industry, and others, to create a whole systems approach to youth physical activity.