Pandemic-induced increases to childhood obesity are set to cost the NHS £800m and billions more to society, according to new research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Obesity among 4-5-year-olds went up by 45% during the pandemic, according to researchers from the NIHR Southampton biomedical research centre and University of Southampton.
For children aged 10-11, overweight and obesity figures increased from 35% to 41%. The rate in these pupils declined after the pandemic but was still four percentage points higher than pre-pandemic trends suggested – the rate of those aged 4-5 returned to expected levels after the pandemic.
The increase among year six-equivalent pupils means 56,000 more children are at a greater risk of developing things like cancer, diabetes, arthritis and stroke.
“…it is clear that we need more radical new policy measures.”
Professor Keith Godfrey
The research team, which also worked in tandem with the NIHR Imperial biomedical research centre, analysed how the impact of these changes could affect adult health measures.
They found the increase in 10-11-year-olds could cost the NHS £800m and wider society up to £8.7bn. This figure takes reduced productivity and worse quality of life into account.
Study author Professor Keith Godfrey, of NIHR Southampton and the University of Southampton, said: “Our projection that this will result in over £8.7bn in additional healthcare, economic and wider social costs is hugely concerning.
“Alongside the even higher costs of the ongoing epidemic of childhood obesity, it is clear that we need more radical new policy measures. This will help reduce obesity and secure wellbeing and prosperity for the country as a whole.”
To conduct their investigation, the researchers analysed data from the national child measurement programme, comparing BMI of children in their first school year (reception, aged 4-5) to their last primary school year (year six, aged 10-11).
The rise in obesity during the pandemic is down to a number of factors, These include:
- A lack of physical activity
- Unhealthy eating
- Home schooling
- Organised sport being cancelled
- Increased screen time
- Changes in sleep schedules
“…new policies should target under-fives.”
Professor Mark Hanson
The researchers found children from the deprived areas have double the likelihood of being obese compared to those from the least deprived areas. This means they face higher lifelong economic costs compared to others.
Professor Neena Modi, co-author from Imperial College London, commented: “We need targeted interventions to bridge this alarming divide, especially in the under-fives where our study shows being overweight and obese can be reversed most readily. This will help ensure every child has an equal chance to grow up healthy.”
Co-author Emeritus Professor Mark Hanson, also of NIHR Southampton, added that obesity can be difficult to reverse with 60-85% of obese children remaining so into adulthood.
He said: “Our finding of a rapid return to pre-pandemic levels of overweight and obesity in the youngest children suggests new policies should target under-fives. This is likely to be an effective means of tackling the growing problem of childhood obesity.”
The research was published in PLOS ONE.
Image credit: iStock
