A new study highlights the prevalence of severe obesity among Welsh children. Higher levels of severe obesity were associated with increasing socio-economic deprivation, and there was a slight variation in the prevalence rates among sexes.
Researchers analysed pseudonymised data for all children included as part of the Wales Childhood Measurement Programme (September 2013 to August 2018). A body mass index above the 99.6th centile was classified as severe obesity.
The overall prevalence rate of severe childhood obesity was 3.1% (95% CI, 3.0-3.2%). For the period 2013-2018, the most deprived areas of Wales had a higher prevalence rate than the least deprived areas (3.9% [95% CI, 3.7-4.0%] vs 1.9% [95% CI, 1.7-2.1%]). The prevalence of severe obesity in the reception year (2017-2018) was higher in boys than girls (3.6% [95% CI, 3.4-3.9%] vs 3.0% [95% CI, 2.7-3.2%]). Although prevalence rates have increased over time, the rise was not statistically significant.
Writing in the Journal of Public Health, the authors said: "The increasing trend of severe obesity in Wales helps to demonstrate the public health need for sustained and bold action to tackle childhood obesity in Wales.”
