The number of 4-5 years old children with obesity has increased in two different health board areas since 2018-19, according to the Child Measurement Programme.

Because of the limitations posed by pandemic restrictions and redeployment of healthcare staff, it was only possible to get sufficient data for children in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) and Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB) areas for the school year 2020-21.  Due to the differences in population and the limitations on data collection, these numbers should not be assumed to reflect the situation across Wales.

Data presented showed that the rate of children with obesity has risen significantly in the two health board areas. In the SBUHB area, 17.6 per cent of children were categorised as having obesity in 2020-21, which was a significant increase on the proportion of 13 per cent reported in 2018-19. Similarly, in the ABUHB area, the proportion of children categorised as having obesity rose from 11.8 per cent in 2018-19 to 18.3 per cent.

Despite only having sufficient data to report the picture for two health board areas in Wales, parents across the country can find information to maintain a healthy weight for their children at Public Health Wales’ Every Child Wales website.