The document summarizes data showing geographical inequalities in obesity rates between 10-11 year olds from different socioeconomic backgrounds in England. It finds that 24.7% of children from schools in deprived areas were obese, compared to only 13.1% from less deprived areas, indicating that social class is closely linked to children's health. Living in poverty is more likely to contribute to poor health in pupils than the school environment alone. Proposed solutions include community programs promoting physical activity and healthy eating that engage parents and children.

1. Table 1 illustrates the geographical inequalities
between 10-11 year olds from a well off
% London
Borough
Social Class
11.1 Richmond
Upon Thames
Council
Not Deprived
26.7 Southwark
Council
Deprived
Table 1 % Obese 10-11 year olds (HSCIC 2014)
According to Health Development Agency (2014), ‘children from
lower economic groups suffer poorer diets…’ This contributes to
inequalities because effects to encourage healthy behaviours in
children are overpowered by the social class of their parents.
Solutions:
School solutions include organising activities that facilitate family involvement. Community solutions
could be programmes promoting physical activity and eating healthy, advocating parents’ and
children’s views on barriers to participation.National solutions include acting on barriers to
participation, schemes that help families come out of poverty,e.g family targeted interventions,
Inequalities: In the school year 2013-2014, 24.7% of children attending schools in the most deprived areas
were obese, compared to13.1% who were from schools in the least deprived areas. This could mean that social
class is closely linked to pupils’ health.
Title: Inequalities in 10-11 year olds from schools in deprived areas.
Introduction: In England, 33.5% of 10-11 year olds measured were either overweight or obese (HSCIC
2014). This is despite the efforts of The National Healthy Schools Programme (NHSP) which aims to
support children and young people in developing healthy behaviours, such as those that focus on
increasing physical activity and improving nutrition.
1 in 10 children are classes as obese by the time
they start primary school.
Living in poverty is more likely to contribute to the
poor health in pupils rather than the school
environment.
References:
Health Development Agency (2014) National Healthy Schools Programme: a briefing for directors of public health,available at http://www.gserve.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/documents/Nhss-dph.pdf last accessed
08.03.15
HSCIC (2014) National Child Measurement Programme - England, 2013-14, December 2014 available at http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB16070 last accessed 06.03.15
Russa Radka