The rise of childhood obesity in England and the implications of obesity persisting into adulthood is a public health concern. Obesity in childhood can have a significant negative impact on the health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people. Obesity in adults is a risk factor for other health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer and may also impact on mental health.

The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is an annual record of height and weight measurements of children in reception (aged 4 to 5 years) and year 6 (aged 10 to 11 years) within state-maintained primary schools. This data is used at a national level to support local public health initiatives and inform the local planning and delivery of services for children.

This data pack presents an analysis of the 2024/25 National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) data for West Sussex. It provides a summary of the most recent child weight figures released by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in November 2025. The dataset includes information at national, regional, and local authority levels, based on the child’s residential postcode. This analysis includes data published from:

Key messages for 2024/25:

Reception (4-to-5-year-olds):

  • Around 22% of children were overweight or obese (excess weight) in West Sussex, equating to around 1,840 children.
  • Prevalence of excess weight was lower in West Sussex (22.3%) than England (23.5%)
  • Variation exists within the county - Arun had the highest prevalence of excess weight (27.5%), and Mid Sussex had the lowest (20.2%)
  • Prevalence of excess weight among reception children has increased significantly in the latest time period (2024/25) compared to 2023/24 in West Sussex

Year 6 (10-to-11-year-olds):

  • 31.8% of Year 6 children were overweight or obese in West Sussex, equating to around 2,805 10–11-year-olds
  • Prevalence of excess weight was lower in West Sussex (31.8%) than England (36.2%)
  • Variation exists within the county - Crawley had the highest prevalence of excess weight (36.4% - higher than the county average), and Mid Sussex had the lowest (26.3% - lower than the county average)
  • Prevalence of excess weight among children in Year 6 in West Sussex has increased significantly in the post pandemic period compared with pre-pandemic levels

Most recent report:

Previous downloads:

2023/24:

2017/18:

Updated: