This chapter examines the patterns of overweight and obesity among children aged 2-15 in 2013. Children’s own perceptions of their weight and their parents’ perceptions are also examined.
Among children aged 2-15, 16% of boys and 15% of girls were classed as obese, and 14% of both boys and girls were classed as overweight. This is similar to the previous year.
The prevalence of obesity increased from 1995 to around 2004 and 2005, where obesity peaked at 18% to 19% among both boys and girls.
Among children aged 11-15, the proportion who were obese has remained at a broadly similar level since the peak in 2004 and 2005.
Among those aged 2-10 the proportion who were obese has decreased signiﬁcantly from 17% of both boys and girls in 2005 to 13% of boys and 12% of girls in 2013.
In both boys and girls aged 2-15, average BMI (body mass index) increased with age, from 16.8kg/m2 for boys and 16.4kg/m2 for girls aged 2-4 to 20.8kg/m2 for boys and 22.2kg/m2 for girls aged 13-15.
22% of boys and 21% of girls aged 2-15 from the lowest household income group were obese, compared with 7% for boys and 6% for girls from the highest household income group.
15% of children who thought that they were about the right weight were actually overweight while 8% were obese.