(UK) Birmingham: 26% of 10 and 11 year olds "classified as obese"

June 1, 2025, Express and Star: Quarter of Birmingham's Year Six children are obese, according to report that exposes city's health woes 

Central England

Around one in four children in Year Six [10, 11 year olds] in Birmingham are classed as obese according to a new report on the city’s health woes.

The council’s corporate plan, set to be discussed next week, sets out some of the key issues currently facing residents across the city.

On health in particular, it says people living in Birmingham experience challenges every day that can have a direct and indirect impact.

“These challenges can lead to far-reaching consequences that may limit their independence and autonomy,” the plan went on to warn.

A number of health issues were therefore put under the spotlight, including access to healthy food and Birmingham’s childhood obesity rates, which are higher than national averages.

In fact, for children in Year Six, the obesity rate was 26.1 per cent – 4 per cent higher than the national average (22.1 per cent). . . .

But as well as highlighting Birmingham’s pressing issues, the plan sets out the priorities for the council as it looks to create a “fairer, greener and healthier city”.

Council leader John Cotton and managing director Joanne Roney wrote: “We will focus on how the council can contribute to this vision over the next three years, including our role in tackling systemic challenges such as housing need, health inequalities, unemployment and child poverty.”

On how it can support children when it comes to their health, the plan says the first years of life are crucial for developing positive dietary habits.

It continued: “Birmingham Forward Steps, a partnership between Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and several charities, supports children and their families to help them make the best start in life and deliver the Healthy Child Programme, the bedrock for health improvement, public health and supporting families.”

It went on to say that eligible families will be encouraged to access Healthy Start vouchers and the council will support food businesses and community food projects across the city.

“An auto-enrolment scheme for eligible children will be a simple and inclusive way to ensure every child gets a healthy meal at lunchtime,” the plan added.

The city council said it would aim to secure investment in green spaces and sports facilities in a bid to drive healthy and inclusive lifestyles.

It also wants to “reduce the inactivity gap between key groups in the city” as part of key strategies and the delivery of the Be Active and Be Active Plus scheme.

On children living in absolute low-income families, the council said: “Through working in partnership to improve access to good jobs, fair wages, reduce inequalities and ensure skills and training are accessible to all, outcomes for families in Birmingham will be improved.”