Obese children miss significantly more school days, UK study finds

Children living with obesity miss significantly more days of school compared to those with a healthy weight, a large-scale UK study has found, highlighting a new dimension to the health crisis affecting millions of children.

The research, which analysed data from hundreds of thousands of primary school pupils across England, found that obese children were absent on average 1.4 more days per year than healthy-weight children. Over a school career, this could accumulate to weeks of lost education.

Researchers said the reasons for higher absence rates are complex. Children with obesity are more prone to health complications including respiratory problems, joint pain and mental health difficulties, all of which can lead to school absences.

"The findings highlight that obesity is not just a medical issue but an educational one too," said one of the lead researchers. "Addressing childhood obesity could have benefits that extend well beyond health outcomes."

The study also found that the gap in absences was widest among children from deprived backgrounds, where obesity rates tend to be higher. Anti-poverty campaigners said the findings underline the need for government action on both poverty and access to healthy food.

The government has pledged to tackle childhood obesity as part of its health strategy, including restrictions on junk food advertising before the watershed and expansion of free school meals.