• Over 50% rise in children being treated for type 2 diabetes in paediatric diabetes units in 5 years

• Following pandemic, rate of obesity amongst reception age children has increased nearly 50%

• Diabetes UK urges UK Government not to abandon its commitments to child health

Dual crises of soaring obesity rates and a rising cost-of-living are creating a perfect storm putting the health of children at risk, charity Diabetes UK warned today.

Analysis from Diabetes UK has revealed that there has been a more than 50% increase in children registered with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment in paediatric diabetes units in England and Wales in the last five years. Data released earlier this year also revealed the biggest increase in childhood obesity since records began in 2006. 

These figures confirm a growing trend of serious health conditions related to obesity that are becoming more prevalent in a younger demographic than ever before. Diabetes UK warns that the trend is particularly concerning now that the Government has put key plans on hold regarding its childhood obesity commitments. 

Data shows that the impact of type 2 diabetes is being disproportionately felt by children living in the most deprived areas across England and Wales. 4 in 10 children and young people living with type 2 diabetes are from the most deprived areas, compared to only 1 in 19 from the least deprived areas' 

This matches against data for childhood obesity prevalence and – in light of the additional burden of the cost-of-living crisis – the charity warns that this group will bear the brunt for decades to come unless urgent Government action is taken.

Following the pandemic, the proportion of reception-age children living with obesity has increased nearly 50% from 1-in-10 to 1-in-7, meaning over 140 children out of every 1000 in this age group live with obesity. Living with overweight or obesity significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and with obesity figures now so high, Diabetes UK is concerned that more and more children will develop this very serious condition.

Type 2 diabetes is known to have more severe and acute consequences in children, and without the right treatment and support, can lead to serious complications that include kidney failure and heart disease in later years.

In response to these alarming figures, Diabetes UK is urging the UK Government not to abandon their commitments to child health. Specifically, the charity is calling on the Government to:

• Urgently reverse its decision to delay restrictions to junk food marketing and unhealthy food promotions, 

• To go much further to meet its goal of halving childhood obesity by 2030, and 

• To do more to address long-standing health disparities, including outlining steps in the forthcoming Health Disparities White Paper.

Chris Askew OBE is Chief Executive of Diabetes UK. He said: 

“We are very concerned that this spike in childhood obesity will translate into an even greater increase in children with type 2 diabetes in the coming years, a crisis fuelled by long-standing health inequalities and made worse still by impacts of the cost-of-living crisis.

“Government needs to entirely rethink its commitment to child health. This must start with urgently reversing the decision to backtrack on their obesity strategy commitments and go further still with bold steps to address childhood obesity and poorer outcomes for children living in poverty in the forthcoming Health Disparities White Paper.

“The UK Government is letting our children down. With soaring numbers of children now living with obesity, and numbers diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on a very concerning climb, we are facing a perfect storm which risks irreversible harm to the health of young people.”

For more information about diabetes, visit diabetes.org.uk