Top five areas for childhood obesity in Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough revealed

Kettering and Wellingborough have the areas with the highest rate of obesity in children, according to three year averages (2016-19) from the Government's National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP).

The programme measures the height and weight for over a million children aged four to five and 10 to 11-years-old each year in primary schools across England to spot trends in child obesity and excess weight.

The government's findings after looking at trends over the last three years say there is a "strong correlation between weight status and deprivation, with children living in the more deprived areas experiencing a higher prevalence of obesity".

It also found that while obesity and excess weight is declining nationally in reception age children, it is going up in year six children.

Northamptonshire as a whole has lower rates of obesity and excess weight than the national average over a three year period (2016-2019).

Across the county an average of 8.7 per cent of reception age children were obese, compared to 9.6 per cent in England as a whole.

However, in Corby 12.2 per cent of reception age children are classed as obese, making it the only area in the north of the county to be above the national average.

Once children reach year six, obesity levels increase. In Northants,18.4 per cent of children were obese over a three year period, but this was lower than England's average of 20.1 per cent.

Again, Corby is above the county and national average with 23.3 per cent of children this age classed as obese. Wellingborough is also just over at 20.3 per cent.

Excess weight, which includes obese and overweight children, accounts for just over a fifth of reception age children in both Northants and England, but rises to around a third of all year six children in both Northants and England.

The NCMP data also breaks down by wards within local authorities.

In the north of the county, Avondale Grange ward in Kettering had the worst rates of obesity and excess weight in reception age children.

When including overweight children of the same age, the area is the worst in the county with almost a third of four to five-year-olds carrying excess weight, well above the national and county average.

For obesity and excess weight in year six children, Wellingborough is the worst affected town.

Brickhill in Wellingborough has the highest combined rate of obesity and overweight children, with almost half of all children aged 10 to 11 considered obese or overweight.

The Swanspool ward has the second highest rate for obesity in children aged 10 to 11 in the county, with 26.8 per cent of children classed as obese.

You can see the full list of the top five areas for each category across Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough below.

No wards from East Northants features in the top five for any categories.

Five worst areas in north Northants for obesity in reception

1. Avondale Grange, Kettering - 13.9 per cent

2. Lodge Park, Corby - 12.6 per cent

3. Piper's Hill, Kettering - 12.5 per cent

4. Beanfield, Corby - 12.2 per cent

5. Finedon, Wellingborough - 11.9 per cent

Five worst areas in north Northants for obesity and overweight combined in reception

1. Avondale Grange, Kettering - 30.3 per cent

2. Piper's Hill, Kettering - 28.2 per cent

3. All Saint's, Kettering - 28 per cent

4. Beanfield, Corby - 27.3 per cent

5. William Knibb, Kettering - 26.8 per cent

Five worst areas in north Northants for obesity in year six

1. Swanspool, Wellingborough - 26.8 per cent

2. Kingswood and Hazel Leys, Corby - 26.4 per cent

3. Queensway, Wellingborough - 26.2 per cent

4. Central, Corby - 25.1 per cent

5. Beanfield, Corby - 24.7 per cent

Five worst areas in north Northants for obesity and overweight combined in year six

1. Brickhill, Wellingborough - 44.3 per cent

2. Queensway, Wellingborough - 42.8 per cent

3. Central, Corby - 42.3 per cent

4. Kingswood and Hazel Leys - 41.8 per cent

5. Stanion and Corby, 41.3 per cent

If you'd like support in losing weight or living more healthily, contact your GP or access support through the NHS's Change4Life programme available here.

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