A report has found a North-South divide in food insecurity across the UK as Hull faces one of the highest childhood obesity rates.
Food insecurity is defined as when households reduce the quality of their diets or where some family members go without food because they lack money or other resources. The North has seen levels of food insecurity rise by 5.5% between 2019/20 and 2022/23, compared to 3.8% in the South.
A report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group, Child of the North, has revealed a North-South divide in children’s health as a result of food insecurity.
The divide translates over to children’s obesity rates. Hull is above the national average for obesity rates in both Reception (age 4-5) and Year 6 (age 9-10) children. In Hull, the obesity rate in Reception children is 12.3%, compared to the English average just below 10%. Similarly, 27.8% of Year 6 children in Hull are obese compared to around 22% across England as a whole.
Rates in the East Riding of Yorkshire are around in line with the national averages for both ages as 21.1% of Year 6 children in the East Riding are obese whilst the figure is 10.1% for Reception children.
Hannah Davies, Executive Director of Health Equity North, said: “For too long, families in the North have talked about the heartbreaking decisions they must make due to rising poverty, from making do with less to skipping meals entirely. The work of partnerships such as Child of the North is to shout loudly and unrelentingly about these issues, so that they are not forgotten when decision-makers gather to agree policies for the country.
“This report demonstrates that there is still so much more to be done. The crushing poverty which is felt unequally in the North has a direct impact on other childhood issues such as obesity, which in turn has worrying impacts in adulthood. Instead of shaming and blaming families, it is time we commit as a country to actively help them.”
Emma Lewell MP, chair of the Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group, said: “Every child should be able to have a healthy life, with access to good, nutritious food choices. However, far too many families in the North are confronted with hard choices every day due to poverty and increasing costs. This is affecting our children’s health at a crucial time for their development, and often leads to other issues such as obesity.
“We have an opportunity to make a difference for these families. But we can only do so if we take decisive action to address the root causes, and provide a well-supported safety net for those who are struggling.”
You can view childhood obesity levels across England using out interactive map.
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