Schools need support to stop children’s health declining further

Experts warn that UK is facing a “child obesity crisis” but that, with support, schools can play a key role in reducing sickness leave and increasing concentration levels

The health of children and young people in the UK is getting worse, new research has found.

A report by the Child of the North research group, which includes academics from the N8 Partnership universities, including the University of Leeds, and the think-tank Centre for Young Lives, found that children’s education, health and wellbeing are being affected by inactivity and unhealthy diets.

The report highlights that almost four million children are not physically active for the recommended 60-plus minutes a day, with those from the least affluent families the least likely to be active.

Also, 82% of five- to 15-year-olds do not consume the recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, and children aged four to 10 years are consuming almost double their recommended daily sugar limits.

The report highlights the challenges facing schools as they try to provide healthy food on tiny budgets and says that 4,000 hours of PE were lost from the curriculum in state-funded secondary schools in 2022/23. 

Professor Mark Mon Williams, Child of The North report series editor, and Chair in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Leeds said: “A healthy country needs to invest in its future workforce, and this means supporting schools to help children eat well and be active.

“The paltry costs necessary to ensure children learn effectively would be swamped by the long-term savings the NHS would make if it wasn’t picking up the obesity problems created through the first two decades of someone’s life.”

“We need to better recognise [schools] that are placing a greater importance on improving physical activity, healthier diets and wellbeing…through the schools’ inspection system.”

Anne Longfield, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives, said: “A greater focus on physical activity in school is long overdue, as are the resources and specialist staff to deliver rich physical exercise experiences.

“We need to better recognise those schools that are placing a greater importance on improving physical activity, healthier diets and wellbeing by recognising their endeavours through the schools’ inspection system.

“We are facing a child obesity crisis, and our children are becoming unhealthier and less active. The resulting poor physical and mental health of our population is crippling the NHS and urgent action is needed.

“With the right support, schools have a crucial role to play. If we get it right, some of the other challenges facing schools – the rising number of absences due to ill health, concentration levels and classroom behaviour for example – could also be improved.”

Bridget Benelam, Nutrition Communications Manager at the British Nutrition Foundation was not surprised by the findings. She said: “A healthy diet and lifestyle are key to help children grow, learn and develop. Unfortunately, children are not getting the recommended balance of foods that they need for good health.

“The diets of 11-18 year olds are particularly poor, with too little fruit and vegetables and fibre and too much salt, saturated fat and sugar.

“Schools and other educational settings can play a key role in supporting better health for children and young people. Not only through the foods and drinks provided but also through education about nutrition, healthy diets and food skills,” added Benelam.