A fifth of children in Hertfordshire are finishing primary school obese and the rate has risen compared to pre-pandemic levels.

NHS Digital figures show 18.7% of Year 6 pupils measured in Hertfordshire schools were obese in 2021-22.

Of these, 3.6% were severely obese, with a body mass index (BMI) in the top 0.4% for a child's age and sex.

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A further 13% of children were overweight, meaning 31.7% of Hertfordshire's youngsters are unhealthily overweight when they finish primary school.

The figures show more older primary school pupils in the area are living with obesity than before the coronavirus pandemic – 16.3% of students measured were obese in 2019-20, the latest period with comparable local data.

A Hertfordshire County Council spokesperson said they new figures were lower than the previous year, but acknowledged they were still high than before the pandemic.  

They said: “Findings from the 2021/22 data show decreases in the proportions of children who are overweight and obese compared to the previous year.

“The most likely explanation is people changing their behaviours to healthier diet and more physical activity, both of which are equally important.

“We have seen more people use our services for healthier weight.

Watford Observer: A total of 31.3% of 10 and 11-year-old children living in the most deprived areas of England were obese compared to 13.5% of those living in the least deprived areas.A total of 31.3% of 10 and 11-year-old children living in the most deprived areas of England were obese compared to 13.5% of those living in the least deprived areas. (Image: freelance)

“But we need to remember that prevalence levels remain higher nationally as well as in Watford than before the pandemic,” they added.

The data comes from the Government's annual National Child Measurement Programme – part of its approach to tackling obesity – which records the height and weight of year 6 and reception-age children in state-maintained schools across England to monitor obesity trends.

It revealed that 31.3% of 10 and 11-year-old children living in the most deprived areas of England were obese compared to 13.5% of those living in the least deprived areas.

Following the data reveal, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is calling on new Health Secretary Steve Barclay to reinforce the government's anti-obesity strategy, which was recently rumoured to be at risk of being scrapped.

A government spokesperson did not comment on whether it would press ahead with the anti-obesity strategy, but said it is "committed to halving childhood obesity by 2030" through support schemes for vulnerable families, such as Healthy Start.

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