Oxford News
British children are growing taller but not for the right reasons
Being overweight or obese causes hormonal changes, which accelerate children’s development. Obese children grow faster, so they tend to be taller than their healthy-weight peers. But obese children have a greater risk of disease in later life, including diabetes and heart disease.
Drawing on data obtained via Freedom of Information requests and official statistics, the researchers examined trends in child height and obesity up to the 2023/24 school year. Child obesity rates have increased in deprived areas, but decreased in more affluent areas, reflecting widening socioeconomic inequalities. Meanwhile, inequalities in height have reduced: poorer children still tend to be shorter than their wealthier peers, but the gap is narrowing. Children in poorer areas are getting taller on average and the researchers suggest this is because of their increasing rates of obesity.
In England’s most deprived areas, the average height of 11-year-old boys increased by 1.7cm from 144.4cm to 146.1cm in the fourteen years between 2009/10 to 2023/24. The proportion of these children who were overweight or obese increased from 37.7% to 43.3% in the same period.
‘It might look like a simple good news story, as on average children in Britain are getting taller,’ says GP and researcher Andrew Moscrop of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences. ‘But in fact it’s a complex bad news story, because this trend is mostly due to height changes among poorer children, and these are being driven by increases in obesity prevalence, which are themselves driven by unfair determinants of health.
‘Children in poorer areas are exposed to more unhealthy food outlets and fewer healthy food sources, while they have less access to outdoor spaces and safe streets for exercise. Additionally, the children’s services that were intended and demonstrated to support children’s healthy weight have been cut back, with deeper cuts in deprived areas.
‘Addressing these issues demands eradicating child poverty and reducing inequalities, while also addressing the environments our children grow up in.’
A sudden increase in average child height occurred among all children during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside a sudden rise in obesity prevalence, due to the reduced opportunities for outdoor exercise and less healthy eating patterns. Among girls aged 11 in England, average height jumped from 146.6cm to 148.0 between school years 2019/20 and 2020/21, while prevalence of overweight and obesity among this age group increased in the same period from 35.2 to 40.9%.
Focus on child height intensified after reports in 2023 claimed British children were ‘shrinking’. These media reports prompted a government statement in January 2024 asserting that data ‘demonstrated growth.’ The researchers say the data suggesting children were ‘shrinking’ was inaccurate, while the government statement was misleading because they quoted data from the COVID-related height increase.
Child Measurement Programmes routinely measure the height and weight of every child during their first year of state education in Britain. In England, approximately 600,000 children aged 4-5 are measured annually, while smaller numbers are measured in Scotland (50,000 to 55,000) and Wales (30,000 to 35,000). Children in England are also measured aged 10-11, in their final year of primary education.
The authors of the paper are GP and researcher Andrew Moscrop of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Danny Dorling, Professor of Human Geography at the University of Oxford, and Tim Cole, Emeritus professor of medical statistics, UCL.
The paper, ‘‘British children are not shrinking’, but child height is increasing for the wrong reasons: trends and inequalities in child measurement programme data for England, Scotland and Wales’, is published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Thames Valley Police has released a CCTV image as it asks for the public’s help in identifying a man who may have vital information about the incident at Templars Shopping Centre in Cowley.
The reported ‘sexual assault’ happened when a woman in her 20s was inappropriately touched over her clothing at around 3pm on Tuesday, June 30.
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No arrests have been made at this time and the police has asked for anyone with any information to come forward as soon as possible.
Investigating officer PC Emily Rice said: “We are releasing this CCTV image as we believe the individual pictured may have information that could assist our investigation.
“If this is you, or if you recognise the person shown in the image, please contact Thames Valley Police.”
Anyone with information can make a report to the police online or call 101, quoting reference 43260331880.
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Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its website.
Appeals for public help in finding individuals by the police can relate to suspects, witnesses or others who may have vital information in relation to the incident.
They do not mean the person is to blame nor do they imply guilt.
The scheme, which took effect on August 28, includes a wide range of furniture and home essentials.
In a statement, IKEA said: “From much-loved favourites to everyday essentials, customers can discover New Lower Prices both online and in-store, helping make it easier to create a home you love, whatever your budget.”
Among the discounted items is the KALLAX shelving unit, soon to be available for £49—down 18% from £60.
The HEMNES daybed, which functions as a sofa, single bed, double bed, and storage unit, will be reduced by 15% from £329 to £279.
In addition to these savings, IKEA is offering more than 1,000 exclusive in-store-only prices with discounts up to 25%.
The company said: “In time for cosy season, in stores nationwide, IKEA is also offering 20% off throws, bedspreads, candles, floor and table lamps, plus selected rugs, thermal curtains, seasonal duvets and cookware, from 7th September to 1st November nationwide.”
The history of IKEA
IKEA was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad when he was just 17 years old.
Originally, the company sold small goods such as pens and wallets, but in 1948, Kamprad expanded into furniture.
This was facilitated by Ingvar’s father, who gave him a small sum of money for doing well in school, which he used to set up a company.
In 1953, the company adopted flatpack furniture, solving costly transportation problems.
IKEA grew steadily throughout the 1950s in Sweden, before expanding into Denmark and Norway in the 1960s.
By the 1970s, the brand had entered markets in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Switzerland.
The first UK store opened in Warrington in 1987, marking the start of IKEA’s growth in the British market.
Today, IKEA employs nearly 12,000 people across its 22 UK locations.
Have you bought items from IKEA before? Let us know in the comments.
Thames Valley Police has released CCTV footage of Juan Carlos Clarke, who the force launched a manhunt for just under a week ago,
The 34-year-old is wanted on recall to prison with the photo showing Mr Clarke in Cornmarket, Oxford, at around 1.10pm on Thursday, August 27.
READ MORE: Manhunt launched after ‘sexual assault’ at Oxford shopping centre
A spokesperson for the police said: “We are continuing to appeal for the public’s help to trace Juan Carlos Clarke, who is wanted on recall to prison.
“We are now releasing a recent CCTV image of Juan, taken in Cornmarket, Oxford, at around 1.10pm on Thursday 27 August.
“Please note that he has recently shaved his hair and may look different from previous images circulated.”
Police reiterated other defining characteristics about him, describing him as being of medium build and having a full beard, as well as a broken or missing lower tooth and a tattoo of two eyes in the centre of his back.
They warned that anyone who sees him, should not approach him.
The spokesperson added: “Juan is described as being 5ft 11ins tall, of medium build and with a full beard.
“He has a broken or missing lower tooth, a scar on his left forearm and a tattoo of two eyes in the centre of his back.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire police ‘welcome’ prime minister’s update on PC Harper killers
“He is known to frequent Oxford city centre, Cowley, Jericho, the Oxford canal towpaths, and has connections to Banbury.
“Do not approach him. If you see Juan, call 999 immediately, quoting reference 43260436595.
“Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call 101 or report online, quoting the same reference.”
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