Primary 1 BMI data 2023/24 - summary & response

Public Health Scotland have published their annual Primary 1 BMI statistics. The data for the 2023/24 school year highlights there has been an increase in the proportion of children recorded as being an unhealthy weight. In 2023/24, 22.3% were recorded as being at risk of overweight and obesity, up from 22% the previous year. The percentage of children at risk of obesity alone has remained the same as the previous year at 10.5%.

The survey for the first time this year reports on children’s weight status by ethnicity. This is a welcome development as understanding weight status by ethnicity in children can contribute to a broader understanding of inequalities in children's weight outcomes and can be used to determine what policy interventions might be appropriate and most effective for diverse subpopulations. Worryingly, the data shows weight-related inequalities between different ethnic groups. Children of Black, Caribbean or African ethnicity were most likely to be at risk of obesity (13.6%), and children of White Other British ethnicity were the least likely (8%). 10.9% of White Scottish ethnicity children were at risk of obesity. Adult obesity data by ethnicity is required to track how these patterns evolve with growing up and to design interventions fitting for diverse subpopulations.

Similarly, there are persistent and marked differences between the most and least deprived children. This is particularly the case for children living with obesity. In 2023/24, children from the most deprived backgrounds (SIMD1) were more than twice as likely to be at risk of obesity than children from least deprived backgrounds (SIMD5) (14% vs 6.4%) and the gap has widened from the previous year (13.9% vs 6.8%). This is highlighted in the graph below.

Percentage of Primary 1 children at risk of obesity by deprivation (SIMD quintiles), school years 2001/02 to 2023/24

Dr Shoba John, Head of Obesity Action Scotland, said:

“Every child, regardless of their background, has a right to health but inequalities are continuing to worsen with children in our most deprived communities and from certain ethnic communities at a much greater risk of obesity. This must be addressed through decisive and tailored policy action.

We need to create a food environment that enables healthy food purchases to be easier for parents. The Scottish Government needs to take bold and urgent action to progress measures so they are not bombarded by promotions of unhealthy foods that are regularly put in the spotlight by manufacturers and retailers. That will ensure easy access to healthy food for all children, and deliver a healthy weight childhood for all children.”

Read the full Primary 1 BMI data report from Public Health Scotland here.