New Report Highlights Obesity and Food Insecurity Challenges in Northern England

A comprehensive new report, authored by researchers from the University of York, sheds light on the stark regional disparities related to childhood obesity and food insecurity across England, with a particular focus on the North. The study, titled "Hungry for Change: Tackling Obesity and Food Insecurity in the North of England," examines how socio-economic factors influence health outcomes from early childhood to adulthood.

Published by Health Equity North and associated with the Child of the North All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), the report underscores the rising levels of food insecurity in northern regions. Between 2019/20 and 2022/23, food insecurity in northern households increased by 5.5%, outpacing the 3.8% rise observed in southern areas. This trend reflects broader economic challenges and inadequate welfare support, which have made it increasingly difficult for families to access nutritious food.

The report highlights persistent regional inequalities in childhood obesity. At reception age, obesity rates in northern regions such as the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North West are above the England average of 9.6%, with figures reaching up to 10.8% and 10.7%. By Year 6, the prevalence of childhood obesity remains higher than the national average of 22.1%, with the North exhibiting rates as high as 24.5% in the North East.

Further disparities are evident within socio-economic contexts: in the most deprived areas, the obesity rate at reception age is over twice as high (12.9%) compared to the least deprived areas (6%). Local authority data reveal that the highest obesity prevalence at reception age is in Hartlepool (13.9%), while Wokingham reports the lowest (5.7%).

Food insecurity is also tightly linked to socio-economic deprivation. Communities in the North have higher percentages of children registered for free school meals, with rates exceeding 30% in some areas, indicating higher levels of poverty. Additionally, North England residents are more likely to live near fast food outlets—69.9% within 1 km—showing an 7.4% higher proximity compared to the South. The number of people living close to fast food outlets in the North has surged by 84% from 2016 to 2024, further intensifying health risks.

The report emphasizes that these issues are interconnected and require comprehensive policy responses. Professor Maria Bryant advocates for expanding support measures such as universal free school meals and boosting access to healthy foods. She stresses that solutions must span a lifetime approach—from conception to adulthood—and should include strengthening social welfare systems and community support.

Community voices, like Penny Walters, a Food Foundation Ambassador, highlight the day-to-day struggles faced by families. She notes that rising living costs and stagnant welfare benefits make nutritious eating increasingly difficult, with poor access to kitchen equipment and knowledge further limiting options for healthy cooking.

The findings call for urgent action to address health inequalities and social determinants affecting children's health in northern England. Ensuring equitable access to nutritious food and reducing exposure to unhealthy food environments are vital steps toward narrowing these regional gaps.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-hungry-obesity-food-insecurity-north.html