Obesity

Adolescent nutrition is an area of increasing concern. As they get older and begin to move to more independence from their families, young people have more control over what they consume. Habits of a lifetime can be formed at this stage and poor nutrition has many implications for both current and future health status and, in particular, obesity.

There are notable health inequalities in obesity rates for 10-11 year olds, as demonstrated in England by the National Child Measurement Programme. Chart HO5 presents data show the difference in obesity prevalence at age 10-11 between the most and least deprived areas is increasing over time, largely due to increases in the more deprived areas, and particularly exacerbated during the years of the Covid-19 pandemic. There was a 16.6% gap between obesity in the least and most deprived areas in the most recent year (2020/21).

Research has found that young people aged 13-16 in lower income groups are more likely to come across unhealthy food and drink marketing when spending time online, compared to young people in higher income groups (Turner & Hackett, 2022).

All data correct as of 1st May 2022