This week Marks and Spencer have announced the launch of “plus size” school uniforms for overweight or obese primary school children [1]. The retailer says it has taken this step to meet the demands of some parents. The plus size uniforms cater for ages three to six, and will be sold on-line on a trial basis [2]. On one level this is a little shocking, but one can understand the retailer wanting to cater for children who have had difficulties buying appropriately sized school clothes.
Most of us are aware that the last two decades have seen an increase in overweight and obese children. The National Obesity Forum [3] reports that 27% of children starting primary school are overweight or obese and MEND [4], a social enterprise supporting families to live healthy lifestyles, reports that one in three children is overweight.
If weight problems are not tackled, an overweight child can become obese later on in life and be at greater risk of a number of serious health problems including type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, very overweight or obese children can find it difficult to participate in activities that other children do such as sports or other outdoor activities, which may be psychologically upsetting for some.
As well as obesity, life expectancy is rising in the UK and is driving government policy on increasing the state pension age. This is not unreasonable; if we will all live longer and claim our pensions for longer, we need to work longer before doing so, if pensions are to remain financially sustainable.
However, life expectancy and healthy life years are not the same thing (as I mentioned in a previous blog post, please see: http://blog.ilcuk.org.uk/2010/06/24/working-into-your-70s-as-long-as-you%e2%80%99re-healthy-enough/). Current health data suggest many people will not be healthy enough to work until the extended state pension age, and that those forced to retire early for health reasons are usually those who can least afford to do so. The chronic diseases that are associated with obesity are not only costly to the NHS; they are also more likely to lead to early retirement due to ill-health. This situation will surely get worse if the number of overweight and obese children continues to increase. It seems unlikely that an overweight five year old will be in good enough health to work until their 70s (as may be necessary by the time today’s five year olds get to retire).
A strong argument emerges for investment in healthy lifestyles over the life course in order to tackle health inequalities, lessen strain on NHS resources, and to avoid serious challenges to future retirement income.
Rebecca Taylor
[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10755099
[3] National Obesity Forum http://www.nationalobesityforum.org.uk/ [4] MEND – Mind, exercise, nutrition, do it! http://www.mendcentral.org/